Ten suspects were arrested and a further eight killed after a shoot-out between law enforcement officers and the suspects in Friars Hill Road, The Hill, on February 21.
It is believed seven suspects are still on the run.
Russel Meiring, communications officer for ER24, said, “ER24 and another private service arrived at 16:15 to find numerous law enforcement officials securing and closing off the area. On closer inspection, medics found a man lying in the road while two other men were found in a light motor vehicle.
“Five other men were found in the nearby premises. All eight men were assessed and found to have succumbed to their numerous gunshot wounds. Nothing could be done for them, and they were declared dead.
More footage of the shootout between a gang of robbers and police in Rosettenville JHB today. Video 1 pic.twitter.com/8L0lnSKgIN
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 21, 2022
“Four law enforcement officers had already been taken across the road to South Rand Hospital for urgent treatment. Once stabilised, two men were airlifted by private medical helicopters to another private hospital while another officer was transported by ambulance. The fourth officer went privately to a nearby hospital.”
Some of the suspects escaped the scene and fled to Glenanda
CPS Security director Tyrone van der Merwe said, “An unknown number of suspects escaped the area with a white Volkswagen Polo and fled to the Glenanda area where they dropped the vehicle.
Yesterday’s Rossetenville shooting. Vehicles used by the gang and recovered. pic.twitter.com/wIdMwsdJOE
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 22, 2022
“After the suspects dropped the vehicle, they tried to hijack a lady in a Mercedes-Benz but failed to get the car in gear and had to abandon the vehicle as well before they hijacked a Toyota Corolla. The suspects abandoned the Corolla down the road. We later found a rifle abandoned next to the freeway.”
Mike Fontes, chairperson for Glenvista CPF, confirmed that after the suspects dropped the Corolla, they got into a taxi before dropping the rifles.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura said there is no place for criminals in Gauteng, as the police intercepted a gang of about 25 gunmen from KwaZulu-Natal, Zimbabwe and Botswana while planning a cash-in-transit heist in Rosettenville.
[ON AIR] Police Minister Bheki Cele is in Rosettenville, Johannesburg where five suspected robbers were shot dead. #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/r43pem7mTZ
— eNCA (@eNCA) February 21, 2022
“The police were able to apprehend eight suspects and have launched a manhunt for others who fled.
“We commend the Gauteng multidisciplinary law enforcement teams for working together in a sophisticated manner, which led to the arrest of these criminals. As the provincial government, we value their determination to win the war against crime,” said Makhura.
The premier highlighted the provincial government has established a War Room on fighting crime as part of building safer communities.
“The War Room brings together all spheres of government, civil society, the private sector and critical stakeholders ensuring that together we build a safer Gauteng.
“There is no place for criminals to hide in Gauteng. We call upon the people of Gauteng to join hands with the government in the fight against crime,” concluded Makhura.
An official statement from Lt-Col Mavela Masondo will be issued as soon as it is available.
WATCH: Eight suspected cash-in-transit heist robbers shot dead in Rosettenville
