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Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, announced that police have broken the back of a syndicate possibly responsible for a number of Cash-In-Transit heists in Limpopo , Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
SAPS management also announced that 18 suspect CIT gang members were killed in a shootout with various units monitoring a group of suspects who were allegedly planning a Cash-In-Transit heist in Limpopo.
“The observation was made for a number of days before they pounced on an identified address in Makhado today (FRI),” he said.
General Masemola said as soon as police approached the address, the group of suspects began shooting, and police retaliated.
“Sixteen males and two females were declared dead at the scene. At a second address in Thohoyandou, four suspects were arrested,” he added.
Police also seized ten vehicles including “several high powered performance vehicles and seven automatic rifles.”
A senior police officer attached to the DPCI (Hawks) was wounded during the shoot out and is currently receiving medical care in hospital.
General Masemola, who led a delegation of senior police officers to the crime scene on Friday afternoon, said police were clamping down on serious and violent crimes throughout the country.
“We continue to heighten police visibility throughout the country. Many thanks to the team who has worked hard to stamp the authority of the state,” he said.
He also wished the injured member a speedy recovery.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) , Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, said the operation was culmination of a major investigation that began as early as January this year.
“Limpopo and Mpumalanga joined forces in addressing the syndicate that was identified based on several follow ups that were made by the team. So indeed, we do believe we have the suspects that we have been following,” he said.
The teams involved in foiling this planned CIT include the DPCI National Priority Violent Crime Desk, Mpumalanga DPCI Head Office Tactical Operations Management Services, Tactical Response Team, Gauteng Special Task Force, and Gauteng Traffic Police Saturation Unit.
