By Kaya 959 News
Police have launched a manhunt for at least four suspects who managed to flee following a foiled robbery on the M1 in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Police spokesperson, Captain Mavela Masondo, said two suspects were killed and four more were arrested after the shootout on the M1, near the Woodmead Drive offramp in Sandton.
He said officers from the crime intelligence unit received information about the robbery that was going to take place in Johannesburg.
“Police from Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Unit and Johannesburg Flying Squad operationalised the information and kept observation.
At about 11:45am, three cars; two Audi A4s and Hyundai i20, with 10 suspects were spotted on the highway. The suspects then fired some shots at a white Toyota Fortune forcing it to stop. Police intercepted the suspects who fired shots at the police and a shootout ensued,” Masondo said.
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Two suspects shot dead
He said two suspects were fatally wounded while four suspects were arrested on the scene and one firearm has been recovered.
Three cars used by the suspects have been seized. Police are searching for about four suspects that are still at large.
The brazen attempt comes just hours after a police officer was shot just during a botched cash-in-transit heist in the Durban Central Business District.
KZN SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Jay Naicker, said officers were at a local shopping mall to view video footage from a previous incident.
“As they were viewing the footage, they were alerted to a cash-in-transit robbery that had taken place on the premises and they immediately responded.
“It is alleged that the cash-in-transit guard was conveying a cash box to his vehicle when five men confronted him and forcefully removed the cash box from his possession. The police officers came to his assistance and managed to prevent the men from fleeing with the moneybox,” Naicker said.
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Suspects open fire on police
He said the suspects opened fire on the police officers and injured a 25-year-old constable as well as the security guard as they fled empty-handed. “Both the police officer and security guard were transported to a local hospital where they remain in a critical condition. Detectives from the Hawks are investigating the cash-in-transit robbery and a manhunt is underway to trace the perpetrators,” Naicker said.
KZN SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi applauded the police officers for immediately springing into action and preventing the robbers from fleeing with the cash.
“We are saddened to hear that a police officer and security guard were injured in this skirmish with the robbers and we wish them a speedy recovery. We will do everything that is with our control to bring the perpetrators to book,” he said.
Silvertondale cash-in-transit robbery
Just days ago, two men who had just collected money from a cash-in-transit company in Silvertondale, were robbed on the N4. According to police, the men were on their way to Brakpan when their vehicle came under fire.
The men were travelling along Stormvoel Road and had just turned onto the N1 when passengers from another vehicle began shooting at them.
The vehicle then stopped and several masked men alighted, armed with firearms and made their way towards the businessmen’s vehicle. They took the money, got back into their vehicle and drove off.
