A pre-dawn intelligence-led operation culminated in a fatal shootout on the R25 yesterday, leaving two suspected armed robbers dead and a third, the alleged owner of a getaway vehicle, seriously injured.
The dramatic incident unfolded as a multi-disciplinary task team, which had been tracking intelligence on a series of courier robberies in the province, intercepted suspects linked to the hijacking of two courier vehicles.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, detailed the sequence of events. He stated that the integrated team, comprising the Tactical Response Team (TRT), counter-intelligence from national office, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks), private security, and Tracker recovery teams, systematically followed information that led them to the robbery in progress.
“The team was systematically following the information… where they picked up two motor vehicles,” Mthombeni said.
As the suspects’ vehicle proceeded towards the R25, police attempted to stop it. “They tried to indicate the instruction that the vehicle must stop; the driver did not stop. As a result, there was a shooting which ensued, the police retaliated,” the Commissioner stated.
The ensuing exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of two suspects. A third, a 40-year-old man, was seriously injured. Upon checking his identity, police discovered he was the registered owner of the vehicle used in the robbery.
“We believe that these are the people who have been causing problems in terms of the courier vehicle robberies,” Mthombeni said.
Police recovered two pistols, reflector jackets, and a blue light from the scene—items commonly used by criminals to impersonate law enforcement or traffic officials to pull over and ambush targeted vehicles.
Commissioner Mthombeni emphasized that the operation was part of a heightened deployment strategy for the safer festive season. “Cash-in-transit and courier motor vehicle robberies is one of our focus areas,” he affirmed, crediting the collaboration between police units and the private security industry as the “eyes and ears” that made the operation possible.
The injured suspect is under police guard in hospital. The multi-disciplinary team’s investigation is ongoing as they work to definitively link the intercepted group to other pending robbery cases in Gauteng.
