Two other suspects were arrested while a fifth managed to escape.
Hawks spokesman for Mpumalanga, Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, said members of the Hawks Secunda, Serious Organised Crime Investigation, National Intervention Unit from Pretoria, TRT Witbank, Crime Intelligence Ermelo and Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) Ermelo received information about a planned armed robbery at the Vlakfontein store in Warburton near Ermelo.
The store was kept under surveillance and at about at 12:30 four suspects entered the store and held the two storekeepers at gunpoint. The victims were then instructed to lie down on the floor.
One of the suspects noticed the police approaching outside and opened fire. The police retaliated and two suspects were fatally shot.
A 34-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene while attempting to escape and the 34-year-old driver of the getaway vehicle, a grey Mercedes Benz, was arrested near the scene. A fifth suspect managed to escape, but was expected to be arrested soon.
Three firearms, together with ammunition as well as the vehicle were seized.
The identity of the deceased suspects has not yet been released.
The two arrested suspects appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday 8 May on charges of business robbery, attempted murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
The case was postponed to 16 May for further investigation and both suspects were remanded in custody.
Mpumalanga DPCI Provincial Head, Maj Gen. Zodwa Mokoena, has welcomed the arrests and issued a warning to criminals that Mpumalanga was not a playground and any unlawful activity would be met with the full might of the law.
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