Police come under gunfire, kill suspect

Police shot dead a suspected illegal miner this afternoon (November 8), after a group of men opened fire on police.

November 8, 2016

1 minute read

The incident happened in a veld near Golden Drive, at around 4.30pm.

Benoni SAPS station commander Brig Johan Jacobs said police received word that a group of men in a bakkie were in possession of weapons.

When they located the bakkie and tried to stop it on Golden Drive, the suspected illegal miners opened fire.

Police returned fire and shot one of the men in the leg. He later died on the scene.

Jacobs said, due to the dangerous terrain and threat to officers’ lives, they could not search for the remaining gunmen tonight.

The bakkie and weapons used by the shooters were not found on the scene.

No police were injured.