Police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is probing the killing of five alleged cash-in-transit (CIT) robbers following a shoot-out with police.
The suspects were shot and killed after they were found at a location that appeared to be a hideout on Monday.
Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the matter is under investigation.
“It is alleged that a group of people were involved in a CIT (robbery) near Macleantown. The Mthatha Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) together with a Combat Team followed up information which led them to KwaKom location, Keiskammahoek. When they approached the house the suspects spotted them and they ran out of the house shooting at the police. The police allegedly retaliated and five suspects were fatally wounded and died at the scene.
“About eight firearms including rifles were recovered at the scene. The incident happened at about 5.45pm.
Explosives were allegedly found at the scene. The incident was reported to Ipid for investigations,” said Shuping.
Hawks spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela said four arrests were made within a few hours of the robbery.
“It is alleged that on July 29 around 6am, the SBV armoured vehicle (AV) from East London en route to Stutterheim was ambushed on the N6 near Macleantown by a number of suspects in a fleet of vehicles. It is further alleged that during the incident three guards were injured as the AV landed on its side during the attack. An SBV escort vehicle was also allegedly shot at and a backup to the scene was called.
“The suspects allegedly fled with an undisclosed amount of money and abandoned three vehicles from their fleet which were later circulated and discovered to have been reported stolen in other provinces. Explosives were also recovered on the scene.
“A few hours later, information was received which led the team to Kom location in a homestead of Keiskammahoek. The team was received with a hail of bullets from the assailants in the suspicious homestead and the police were forced to retaliate with the same force, which ended with five of the assailants (being) fatally wounded.
“Cash in original money bags; three AK 47 riffles; one R1 rifle; four R5 rifles; 17 magazines with a large number of live rounds of ammunition were recovered and seized in the household.
One 58-year-old suspect was arrested,” said Mgolodela.
A follow-up investigation ensued which led to the arrest of three suspects driving a suspicious Porsche vehicle with GP registration between Queenstown and Cradock.
“A quick roadblock was set up by Gqeberha Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks jointly with Cradock SAPS K9, Cradock Visible Police, Cradock Public Order Police and Local Criminal Record Centre members outside Tarkastad where the suspicious vehicle failed to stop.
“A chase ensued and conventional methods were used to bring it to a halt.
Three suspects were arrested.”
Cape Times