Nine suspects believed to be behind cash-in-transit robberies around Gauteng have been shot dead in a shootout with police in Sebokeng earlier today. National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said three other suspects were wounded during the shootout.
SUSPECTS BEHIND HEISTS IN GAUTENG
Mathe said the suspects are believed to be behind a spate of cash-in-transit heists in Gauteng and surrounding areas. On Wednesday two bystanders were shot dead while a security guard was wounded during a heist in Benoni. The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police Minister Bheki Cele visited the scene in Sebokeng and said although the matter has not been heard in court, they have no reason to doubt that they caught the right people. He said the suspects were cornered very early in the morning by SAPS intelligence meaning that they were on their way to commit more crime.
STOPPED IN THEIR TRACKS
Cele said the police followed information by crime intelligence after a cash van was robbed in the same area two weeks ago and another one in the Harris area four days ago. "The house seems to be owned by a parolee. The three cars you see there were idling at 5am and they were ready to roll. When the suspects noticed that they were surrounded they exchanged fire with the police. We refuse to co-govern with criminals and they must know. Earlier this week I visited a similar scene in Durban where criminals just go around killing people. This team of police must teach criminals respect. Cele said criminals hide themselves in posh areas. "We are calling on community members not to turn a blind eye but expose criminality in their areas and help us root out criminals. We will profile these cars and hope to discover where they originate from. There is new kind of firearm called AR15 that is usually used by private security companies. We find them on crime scenes and here we found two and it's worrying. We found 6 firearms in total." He added. Six rifles, six commercial explosives that were already assembled and ready to be detonated as well as four vehicles have been seized.
KIDNAPPING VICTIMS ALSO FOUND
Meanwhile, Cele said Sebokeng has given the police a good morning after two Somalian boys who were kidnapped more than two weeks ago were found unharmed in the area. Kidnappers demanded R8 Million for their release. "No ransom was paid and three people were arrested at the house where the boys were found, "said Cele.
