- An intense shootout between police and suspected robbers in Khayelitsha, Town Two, on Monday August 5, resulted in the deaths of eight gunmen and the arrest of five others.
- The suspects, who were planning a cash-in-transit robbery, were found with a large arsenal of firearms, including AK47 rifles, R5 rifles, and 9mm pistols, as well as improvised explosive devices.
- The five arrested suspects are facing charges related to prohibited firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
“It was like a movie. The criminals were running on rooftops,” this is how one of the witnesses described the deadly shooting in Town Two, Khayelitsha, on Monday 5 August.
The shoot-out, which left eight gunmen dead and five injured, lasted for about 45 minutes to an hour according to the witness.
In the aftermath, seven AK 47 rifles, two R5 rifles, one R4 rifle, a Dashprod rifle, two 9mm pistols, three Improvised Explosive Chargers and numerous magazines filled with rounds of ammunition were found.
The five suspects appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 8 August.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said the suspects face charges of “prohibited firearms” and ammunition and possession of “explosives”.
READ | ‘It was like a movie’: Eight dead and five arrested in a shooting in Town Two, Khayelitsha
Speaking on condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisal, the witness described the incident as terrible. He added that some roof tops in nearby houses were damaged during the incident. “Some family members told us they laid down during the shooting as the culprits ran on top of their roofs.
“But, we are thankful that they were running on top of the roofs.
”If they were on the streets there could have been some casualties,” he explained.
READ | Court releases would be cash-in-transit robbers
According to police reports, the suspects were in a house planning a cash in transit robbery when a multidisciplinary team comprising Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) members, intelligence operatives, Special Task Force members, security company officials pounced.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa said the team followed up on vital information about a possible cash in transit robbery in Town Two, Khayelitsha on Monday evening. “As the team approached the suspects, the would-be robbers started firing at police who retaliated. As a result eight suspects were shot dead and five were arrested.
Potelwa said the DPCI detectives are hard at work with investigations and following up on additional information.
