A police officer and a passer-by were wounded in a shoot-out between police and armed thugs in Station Street in the Randfontein CBD on 21 June.
The incident occurred after two off-duty police officers, in the CBD on personal business, spotted a suspicious silver Opel Corsa with four occupants, driving up and down along Station Street near the Randfontein Railway Station.
The officers decided to follow the Corsa and contacted the local sector vehicle to assist with backup.
According to Randfontein SAPS spokesperson, Captain Appel Ernst, two of the Corsa’s occupants were dropped off in Station Street.
The officers elected to keep following the Corsa.
Two Randfontein sector vehicles responded to the backup call and upon their arrival, they stopped the Corsa in Pollock Street.
The other SAPS vehicle was directed around the corner to Station Street where they spotted the two other suspects still walking along the road.
The police officers apparently stopped and were in the process of getting out of their vehicle when the two suspects opened fire on them.
The driver of the police vehicle was wounded in the leg and fell in the road, while the crew member took cover.
A shootout ensued and the two suspects jumped into the marked police vehicle and sped off, while still shooting at the police officers.
The police officers returned fire.
A female pedestrian was caught in the crossfire and wounded in the upper body.
“A lookout was posted and air and ground support assisted in tracking the vehicle,” says Ernst.
“The vehicle was recovered approximately one hour after it was taken, in the Finsbury residential area in Randfontein.
“The suspects apparently fled on foot after abandoning the vehicle.”
Ernst says that the police vehicle is riddled with bullet holes and it is suspected that at least one of the suspects might be wounded.
“The driver of the Corsa was arrested and the vehicle was impounded,” says Ernst, adding that the criminals did not manage to take any police firearms during the incident.”
The injured police officer and the pedestrian were both treated at the crime scene before being transported to a local hospital.
Both are in stable condition.
“Cases of attempted murder, theft of police vehicle and theft of police radio are being investigated,” says Ernst.
