Gauteng police foil second potentially serious and violent crime within one hour of the first incident, arresting six more suspects with firearms. Police believe many innocent lives have been spared with the interception of a second planned robbery, hardly one hour after police foiled a hijacking in Randburg.
An integrated team of law enforcement agencies on the morning of 12 April 2019, between 06:00 and 07:00, were acting on information about a planned robbery in Johannesburg when they spotted suspects in two vehicles travelling between Soweto and Lenasia South.
The team cornered a Toyota Corolla along the K43 road next to Thembelihle informal settlement, and arrested one suspect. It is reported that the occupants of the second vehicle, a VW Golf sped off, firing shots at police who were in pursuit. The Golf was cornered along the same route next to Lenasia South, where two suspects sustained critical injuries during the shootout and three more suspects were also injured.
All injured suspects are in hospital under police guard.
Police recovered an AK47 assault rifle, a pistol and revolver with ammunition at the scene which will be subjected to ballistic testing for possible linkage to previous crimes. The two vehicles were also seized.
Cases of attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm have been opened while further investigation is underway.
Police Management has applauded the operational success which might not have been possible were it not for the collaboration between the SAPS, the DPCI, Gauteng Traffic Police (Saturation Unit) and the Tracker.
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