SA police shoot down a suspected Zimbabwean armed robber

A suspected Zimbabwean armed robber has been killed while two accomplices have been injured following a shootout with South African police and a security firm following a robbery in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng province, on Thursday, November 6, 2024.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the trio was cornered in a rented room after they committed a business robbery in Elukwatini. Police said when confronted, the suspects opened fire while counting their stolen loot.

“An investigation is underway following a business robbery in Elukwatini in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 6 November 2024, around 1:30 am,” SAPS said in a statement shortly after the incident.

Police officers from Elukwatini District, in collaboration with a private security company, responded to the robbery at a local gas station at Nhlazatshe Crossings. Upon their arrival, officers received information that the suspects had stolen an undisclosed amount of cash, cigarettes and gambling vouchers.

A follow-up operation led police to a rented room where the suspects were reportedly still counting the stolen money. When police tried to arrest the trio, they fired shots from inside the room, prompting officers to return fire.

SAPS Mpumalanga provincial spokesperson Captain Magonseni Nkosi confirmed that one of the suspects was killed in an exchange of gunfire, while the other two were injured and taken into police custody for medical treatment.

“The suspects were overpowered and one died from gunshot wounds,” Nkosi said. “An unknown amount of money and a firearm were found at the scene.”

The identities of the deceased and injured suspects are still under investigation and SAPS has not yet confirmed whether the suspects were previously known to authorities. The two surviving accomplices are expected to appear before the Elukwatini District Court once they recover from their injuries.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will conduct an investigation into the shooting as SAPS officers were involved in the incident. The investigation aims to ensure transparency and fairness regarding the events leading up to the gunfire.

“This investigation must ensure that there is clarity about what happened during the shooting and that all necessary procedures have been followed,” Nkosi said.

The robbery and subsequent shooting have raised concerns about cross-border criminal activity, with South African authorities highlighting the need for greater vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime.