Members of the Hawks, the Police’s Special Task Force and Private Security officials have foiled a potential cash-in-transit robbery in Khayelitsha, leaving eight suspects dead.
The multidisciplinary team followed up on information about members of a suspected cash-in-transit gang in Town Two, Khayelitsha, on Monday evening.
The information obtained pointed to the gang planning a cash-in-transit heist.
As the team approached the suspects, at their hide out, the alleged robbers started firing shots at police who retaliated.
Eight suspects were shot dead, a number wounded, and five were arrested. Thankfully, no police officers were injured.
A large number of firearms, including seven AK47 Rifles was confiscated.
Other firearms confiscated included two R5 Rifles, one R4 Rifle, one Dashprod Rifle, two 9mm pistols, three improvised explosive chargers, and numerous magazines filled with rounds of ammunition.
Hawks detectives are investigating and following up on additional information.
8 suspects shot dead in Khayelitsha tonight during a successful pro-active operation.
I just left the scene in Khayelitsha where @SAPoliceService multi-disciplinary team comprising DPCI members, intelligence operatives, Special Task Force members and security company officials… pic.twitter.com/mhtINDFB6S
— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) August 5, 2024
The MEC for Community Safety and Police Oversight Anroux Marais has commended the police for the pre-emptive operation in Khayelitsha.
”The arms and ammunition confiscated in Khayelitsha will no longer be used to terrorize our people. The suspects arrested will be able to provide further information on the origin and planned use of the confiscated weapons.
I congratulate the Provincial Commissioner Patekile and his team on a great success.”
Premier Winde also commended the SAPS:
“I am very grateful no police officers or innocent members of the public were harmed while conducting this operation. This is proof that when coordinated, intelligence, and evidence-based policing are implemented, violent crime can be prevented, and we can make inroads in our efforts to fight crime. However, I am deeply concerned about the calibre of weaponry the suspects were allegedly armed with. I shudder to think of the bloodshed that would have been caused had they been used in our communities. I implore the SAPS to prioritise its investigation to determine exactly where these weapons originated from. We must work closer together and do everything possible to take all illegal weapons off our streets to make our communities safer.”
The Premier has issued a warning to criminals:
“Organised crime syndicates have been warned: your reign of terror over innocent, law-abiding residents must end.”
A week ago, near East London in the Eastern Cape, police killed five suspected cash-in-transit robbers after a shootout that ensued after a robbery on the N6 in Macleantown.
Twenty suspects bombed an armoured vehicle and made off with an undisclosed amount of money on 29 July. Three guards were injured during the incident.
