Cape Town - A suspected gang of robbers who allegedly planned a cash-in-transit heist were stopped in their tracks late on Monday in Town Two, Khayelitsha, when they were confronted by the police’s task force.
When the gun battle ended, eight suspects were shot dead inside a double-storey house, with four others wounded in the chaos, which saw residents in neighbouring houses ducking for safety. As police made their way through the house, they uncovered a haul of guns and explosives.
According to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, the suspects were planning an attack.
“We welcome what police did in Khayelitsha. They got intelligence information about what would have been a CIT (cash-in-transit).
“It was going to be an attack on (a) business or whatever they were planning to attack and they were intercepted. That is the duty of police, to intercept crimes so that we bring the number down. But we also welcomed the seizure of those firearms ... those are very high calibre weapons,” said Mchunu. One of the dead suspects is believed to have come from KwaZulu-Natal for the attack, which was planned to have happened yesterday.
Parliament’s police portfolio committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, welcomed the police’s speedy intervention.
“The operation is testament to the importance of intelligence-led policing and highlights the importance of interventions aimed at preventing crime from happening. Also, the centrality of collaboration between various units with the SAPS and the private security industry in turning the tide against crime was highlighted,” said Cameron.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said the CIT robbery was foiled as a police multidisciplinary team pounced on the would-be robbers.
“A multi-disciplinary team comprising DPCI (Hawks) members, intelligence operatives, special task force members, security company officials following up on vital information about a possible cash-in-transit robbery pounced on would-be robbers in Town Two, Khayelitsha early on Monday evening.
“As the team approached the suspects, the would-be robbers started firing shots at the police, who retaliated. As a consequence, eight suspects were shot dead and five were arrested.”
Potelwa said police confiscated seven AK 47 rifles, two R5 rifles, one R4 rifle, one Dashprod rifle, two 9mm pistols, three improvised explosive charges and numerous magazines filled with rounds of ammunition.
“The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) detectives are hard at work with investigations and following up on additional information,” she added.
The swift action by police has been applauded by the Western Cape Provincial Community Policing Board.
Board spokesperson Justin Kumlehn expressed their condolences but praised the police officers for their bravery.
“Their commitment to not retreating under attack resulted in a successful outcome, with no SAPS members injured or killed, and the recovery of 13 firearms and three improvised explosive devices. This operation exemplifies the type of intelligence-led actions that our community desires as we work together to eliminate criminal elements and illegal firearms from our neighbourhoods. Such efforts play a crucial role in enhancing community-police relations and rebuilding trust in the SAPS.”
Cape Argus