One of these days Standerton will be known as the Wild West with all the armed robberies that take place.
The swift action of Kasselman Security Services and the police will make it an award-winning movie.
The shootout on 29 June left two people wounded and two police officers were admitted to hospital.
No other injuries or fatalities were reported.
According to Capt Fanie Nhlabathi, communications officer of the Standerton Police, one police officer was already discharged from hospital.
Five suspects were arrested at the side of the road, about 5km out of Standerton, as the pursuit continued for the others.
Armed men apparently came from the Bethal direction.
The Bethal Police confirmed that there was an armed robbery in Bethal, but it can not be confirmed whether the incidents were connected.
The number of robbers is not yet known, but according to Mr Jannie Kasselman of Kasselman Security Services (KSS), Â many were involved.
Shots were fired at a Fidelity security guard on the Bethal Road, about 20km from Standerton.
He was shot in the arm.
(Click HEREÂ for gallery).
The guards were escorting two delivery vehicles, transporting cigarettes when thugs opened fire on two brothers.
The brothers returned fire.
Kasselman Security Services (KSS) as well as the police were alerted.
One of the brothers was shot in the face and was rushed to the doctor for medical assistance.
According to a police officer, all hell broke loose, it was just bullets flying around, everywhere.
(Click HEREÂ for the original story).
According to Mr Jannie Kasselman, shots could be heard as far as the Grootdraai Dam turn-off.
Another man said his vehicle was shot at.
Scene 1:
The Fidelity guard was shot in the arm, at least four vehicles, a Quantum, Polo, Corolla and Nissan bakkie were involved.
Scene 2:
Two delivery vehicles were shot at and forced off the road, the Quantum was used as a getaway vehicle to load the goods in.
Scene 3:
Two brothers were shot at who then returned fire, one brother was shot in the face.
Scene 4:
Standerton Police stopped a silver Polo and the occupants allegedly fled.
Three were apprehended and farmers found another man next to the road, with the last one laying in the veld for about two hours before handing himself over to the police.
It can not be confirmed whether they were connected to the crime and are currently in custody for questioning.
Scene 5:Â
Police officers were looking for weapons that were apparently thrown out of the Polo.
Scene 6:
Criminals hijacked a young woman, forced her from the road and demanded that she gets to the other side of the road.
The thugs sped away with the bakkie she was travelling in.
Scene 7:
The shooters’ white Nissan bakkie was left abandoned in the middle of the road.
The tyres were shot out and the robbers fled the scene.
Scene 8: (Standerton Country Club and the Waterfront Lodge)
It was suspected that the armed men fled here.
A police helicopter was deployed and spotted some of them running on the golf course.
A controlled fire was started in nearby dense vegetation to try and smoke the robbers out if they were indeed in hiding.
Scene: 9
A K-9 vehicle of the police overturned in Kruger Street.
Circumstances surrounding this incident is still unclear.
Scene: 10:
The bakkie that was hijacked on the Bethal Road was abandoned on the R50, a passerby saw the vehicle and alerted authorities.
Scene 11:
According to information, a truck of the contractor upgrading the R50, was hijacked, but was later recovered.
Blood was found inside the vehicle which might be an indication that some of the robbers were wounded.
Read the full article in the next edition of the Standerton Advertiser.
