AMERSFOORT- A 39-year old suspect was shot dead during a shoot-out with police while his 51-year-old co accused faces charges of attempted murder and other charges.
Police information states that the incident unfolded when members of the police in Volksrust spotted a suspicious looking Audi Sedan driving towards Amersfoort. After which a vehicle enquiry was done using its registration numbers and it was found that its registrations were mounted with false registration plates.
Lt Leonard Hlathi police spokesperson in the province said the police then requested a backup from Amersfoort police station after trying to chase the vehicle but with no success. The members then rushed in the direction of the said vehicle and spotted two occupants in the said vehicle. The police apparently signaled the driver to stop but he sped off taking the gravel road to Piet Retief and a chase began.
Hlathi said the police then found the suspects’ vehicle abandoned on the road and stopped there, immediately the two suspects armed with AK47’s and an R5 rifle, emerged from the nearby bushes and held them at gunpoint, rob their cellphones and they (suspects) fled using the police van.
On their way the villains came across another police vehicle which they signalled to stop. Immediately after the police stopped, the suspects held them at gunpoint too, took their cellphones and disarmed them, then broke their two way communication radio before speeding off.
It is further said that local farmers were notified for assistance and successfully block the road with their truck whilst other police continued with the chase.
“When the suspects noticed that the road was blocked, they tried to make a U-turn but they had no route to escape as the other police vehicles were behind them. One of the suspects armed with an AK47 jumped out from the passenger’s seat and fired shots at the police who then retaliated,” said Hlathi.
“The suspect was fatally wounded and the other one was arrested unharmed,” said Hlathi.
Three illegal AK47’s, an R5 rifle together with a 9mm pistol that was robbed from the police were found in the suspect’s possession.
Explosives, balaclavas, gloves, a hammer, live rounds of ammunition, wiring for battery which is supposedly used during ATM bombings were also found in the suspect’s Audi Sedan. Investigations still continue.
The suspect appeared in the Sheepmore Periodical Court on January 24 on charges of attempted murder, hijacking, armed robbery, pointing of firearm, possession of explosives, possession of implements used in the commission of crime, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
His court outcome is not yet known.
The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela expressed words of gratitude to the sterling job done by the farmers to support the police in apprehending the suspects.
“I appreciate the risk they took in ensuring that the suspects do not escape irrespective of the way they were heavily armed. I hope the entire community could take cue from them in fighting any form of crime. This shows that if we work together with our communities we will win this battle of fighting crime”, said Ntobela.
