Armed robbers fatally wounded after high-speed chase

Two armed robbers, one believed to be a policeman based at Mandeni, were shot dead by members of Umkomaas SAPS after they allegedly robbed a supermarket in Umkomaas on Tuesday evening, 20 June.

Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane of the KZN SAPS media centre said Umkomaas SAPS received information about a business robbery at a supermarket in the Roseneath area at about 5.30pm.

“The complainant was in his business premises when he was approached by three unknown suspects,” said Lt Col Zwane.

The robbers took cash, airtime vouchers and a cellphone at gunpoint, before fleeing in a silver VW Polo.

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Umkomaas SAPS spotted the vehicle and the men opened fired on them.

A chase ensued and the VW Polo came to a standstill under the N2 bridge.

The men started running while still firing at the officers who returned fire, fatally wounding both men. A third managed to escape.

One of the men was killed instantly, but the second was still alive when Netcare 911 media liaison officer, Chris Botha attended to him.

“Paramedics arrived at the scene and found a man in the back seat of the car who had sustained gunshot wounds and died before our arrival,” he said.

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Another man was found lying in the veld about 500m from the car with life-threatening injuries.

According to Botha, the man pleaded with him to save his life as he was a policeman based in Mandeni. Paramedics worked fervently for some time to try to stabilise the man, but despite all their efforts, he died at the scene.

The stolen items and two firearms were recovered.

Charges of armed robbery and an inquest were opened at Umkomaas police station for investigation. With all the police and emergency services vehicles at the scene, traffic on the N2 was backed up.