LIMPOPO – Another body of an adult male was found at the scene of a shootout between suspected cash-in-transit (CIT) heist suspects and police in Makhado, bringing the death toll to 19.
On Friday (September 1), various SAPS units pounced on a house in Eltivillas, Makhado that lead to the death of 18 suspects at the time (16 males and two females).
Read more: 18 cash-in-transit suspects shot dead in Makhado
Provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke said the discovery was made during the processing of the crime scene on Saturday (September 2) by the Hawks and a team of crime scene experts.
The shootout followed an intelligence driven project initiated by various national and provincial units that was initiated in January this year in response to the spate of CIT robberies in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
WATCH: Police in Limpopo shot and killed 18 suspects in a cash-in-transit fouled robbery on Friday in Makhado, Limpopo.
https://t.co/EhNbJ2BtJC #CashInTransit pic.twitter.com/HIZ1DV8WUo— Scrolla Africa (@ScrollaAfrica) September 1, 2023
“The suspects were about to leave the house to execute their mission when they realised that they were being monitored and began shooting at the team. In a shootout that lasted for about 90 minutes, nineteen (19) suspects were killed instantly. Unfortunately one Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation member was injured during the shootout and rushed to the hospital for medical treatment,” Maluleke’s statement read.
Eleven firearms with lots of ammunition, multiple magazines (AK47, R1, R5 and a pistol) as well as primed explosives and detonators, boosters, lead cords and raw explosives were found at the scene.
In addition, five vehicles were impounded including bakkies and luxury SUV’s of which three were positively reported stolen in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
“The processes of identifying the deceased will unfold today and five suspects are expected to appear before the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court on charges relating to possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles. These suspects were arrested at a safe-house in Thohoyandou and believed to be part of the group in Makhado,” Maluleke said.
He added that one suspected stolen vehicle and another vehicle with ambulance branding was found at the second address in Thohoyandou and they were also seized.
It is believed that the ambulance-looking vehicle was going to be used to transport money after the heist from Limpopo to Gauteng.
