MARBLE HALL — Two suspected armed robbers died in a motor vehicle crash in the Marble Hall policing area on Tuesday morning, 8 September, hours after a violent business robbery at a filling station in Dennilton.

Police recovered firearms and ammunition from the wrecked vehicle, with preliminary investigations positively linking the weapons and the two deceased suspects to the robbery.

According to police, about 13 armed men allegedly stormed a filling station at Moteti Complex in Dennilton at approximately 02:30.

The suspects, reportedly armed with handguns and rifles, allegedly confronted security guards and a cashier before forcing their way into the cash office.

Police said the suspects used an explosive device to breach the drop safe and steal an undisclosed amount of cash. They then allegedly fled the premises on foot while firing several shots.

The suspects used an explosive device to breach the drop safe

Members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit took over the crime scene. Several pistol and rifle cartridges were recovered.

At approximately 05:10, police received information about a white Nissan Navara with Mpumalanga registration plates that had overturned on the R573 between Slaagboom and Siyabuswa, towards Marble Hall.

Police found two male occupants at the crash scene. The driver was certified dead at the scene, while the passenger sustained serious head injuries.

The injured passenger was transported by ambulance to a local hospital but later died while receiving medical treatment.

The police recovered an R5 rifle and ammunition

During the processing of the crash scene, police recovered an R5 rifle, two R5 magazines and 56 rounds of R5 ammunition.

Two 9mm pistols, an empty 9mm magazine and one 9mm round were also recovered.

Cases of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as culpable homicide, have been registered at Marble Hall SAPS.

The deceased suspects were subsequently identified as men aged 34 and 35.

Preliminary investigations have since positively linked both men to the Dennilton filling station robbery.

Police are continuing their investigation as they work to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects believed to have been part of the armed group.

Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers welcomed the recovery of the firearms and the breakthrough linking the deceased suspects to the robbery.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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