Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said three suspects robbed a house in a complex on Linden Street in Strathavon just before 8am on the morning of 13 April. The suspects stole a laptop, jewellery and money.
He said the victim pushed the panic button and notified the police to the suspects. One suspect jumped over the walls of other complexes in the area and is still at large. The police and flying squad managed to track down the two other suspects, one was arrested on Helen Road and another was fatally injured in a complex on Helen Road. The arrested suspect is charged with attempted murder, after firing shots at the police and house robbery.
Dlamini said all of the stolen items were recovered.
Police are searching for the suspect who is at large.
13 April, 14.14pm:
Dlamini said the suspect at large was allegedly spotted attempting to bank some money and is being chased by the police.
There have also been Twitter reports of police activity on the M1 South, by Corlet Drive in Melrose North where an alleged car chase took place.
More information to follow.
13 April, 9.30am:
Gila Klatzkin of Community Active Protection clarified that one suspect was fatally injured and another was arrested and that they would be working with police going forward with the case.
13 April, 9.25am:
An eyewitness alleged that three suspects were involved in a house robbery at a complex on Linden Street and they subsequently jumped over the walls of a few residential complexes to escape when they ended up in the residential complex on Helen Road where they were apprehended.
The eyewitness alleged that one suspect was shot dead and the two others were arrested. This is unconfirmed by police and it is unclear whether more suspects were involved.
Provincial police have arrived on the scene.
Updates to follow.
13 April, 9am:
There is a police presence outside a residential estate on Helen Road in Strathaven following an alleged shooting.
Warrant officer Moses Maphakela, spokesperson of Bramley police said one suspect was shot.
A security guard at a nearby hotel claimed that 10 shots were fired at around 8am.
A community member reported that one suspect had been killed but this is not confirmed at this stage.
A security company, paramedics and the fire department are on the scene as well.
13 April, 8.44am:
Eyewitness Kyle Marais said he was travelling on Grayston Drive and saw a police officer on the corner of Grayston Drive and Linden Street seemingly preventing motorists from going down Linden Street. He said there was also a police presence on Grayston Drive and he heard two gun shots fired as he passed by.
@Rabishish tweeted, “Strathaven swarming with cops, chasing suspect, guns drawn.”
@ADailyJem tweeted that she had heard gun shots at 7.30am on the morning of 13 April.
@TrafficSA warned motorists to avoid the area as it seemed that police were chasing suspects.
Sandton Chronicle journalist Andrei van Wyk is on his way to the scene and updates to follow as more information becomes available.
