Six suspects were fatally wounded during a shoot-out with law enforcement in South Africa’s Laudium, Tshwane, on Monday night, following an operation to intercept a cash-in-transit robbery gang.
A seventh suspect was arrested without injury, while a few others managed to escape.
Police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo confirmed that five unlicensed firearms and ammunition were recovered at the scene.
Early investigations suggest that the suspects are linked to a recent cash-in-transit robbery in Atteridgeville, where four security guards were shot and injured. The gang is also suspected of being involved in other robberies across Gauteng and other provinces.
The arrested suspect is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms, and attempted murder.
Masondo explained that Crime Intelligence had received a tip-off about the suspects heading towards Atteridgeville to carry out another robbery.
A coordinated response was launched, with the SAPS Gauteng Tactical Response Team, Anti-Gang Unit, and other specialised forces involved in the operation. The suspects were spotted in two vehicles, a BMW X1 and an Audi A4, following a cash-in-transit van.
“Police from Crime Intelligence received information about the suspects who were en route to commit [a] cash-in-transit robbery in Atteridgeville and activated the team that includes SAPS Gauteng Tactical Response Team, SAPS Gauteng Anti Gang Unit, Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing, CAP Specialised Operations and Tracker Connect to be on the lookout for the suspects,” he said.
When the suspects realised they were being tracked, they tried to flee, but the police gave chase. At Laudium, the suspects opened fire, leading to a shoot-out.
Investigations revealed that the Audi A4 had been hijacked in Cleveland, Johannesburg, in December 2024. Police are still searching for the remaining suspects.
