Five armed robbers have been shot dead by police in dramatic gun battles in the hills and forests in Lusikisiki.
Villagers and police joined in to chase down the suspects.
Six surviving suspects were arrested and will appear in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court on Monday charged with business robbery and attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and possession of a hijacked vehicle, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.
The suspects from KwaZulu-Natal were aged between 23 and 45.
Eleven armed men robbed a shop in the Mbayi village in the Mfinizweni administration area near Lusikisiki at 7am yesterday,” Fatyela said.
“They assaulted an elderly woman shopkeeper before escaping with a substantial amount of cash for yesterday earnings. There was to be a social grant pay out at the village and the robbers might have heard there was money around.
“The owner raised the alarm and police chased the robbers who were in two getaway vehicles. “The robbers opened fire and police were forced to retaliate,” Fatyela said.
The robbers abandoned their vehicles and ran into the forest followed by police and villagers. “Again there was a gun battle between the robbers and police and some were shot dead. Others were shot dead later on,” Fatyela added.
The robbers ran through the villages of Mfinezweni, Qathula, Mgojweni and Qawukeni which are far apart, and situated in mountains and forests.
In each village members of the community joined the chase.
One suspect was shot dead at Qathulu and the others ran into a forest at Mgojweni. “Again there was a gun battle and two men were shot dead and three others were shot dead later on at Qawuken near the AmaMpondo great place.”
Police from Port St Johns, Lusikisiki and Flagstaff were part of the operation.
Fatyela applauded the villagers for refusing to hide the gang. “This is the kind of working relationship we need between police and the community. Members of the community risked their lives for the sake of fighting crime. We take off our hats for the support we received from those communities.
“The drama ended up at about 1pm with the arrest of the six men.
“Four 9mm pistols have been found in their possession. Only one firearm, a shotgun, has not been found yet,” Fatyela added.
All the stolen cash was found and the vehicles – one reported hijacked in Durban– were also found.
Fatyela said while a shopkeeper was hospitalised she was not badly wounded.
Provincial SAPS commissioner, Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta commended the community members for their alertness, saying: “The police in the province are committed to clamping down on crime and criminal activities.
“These arrests must send a message that SAPS members in the rural areas are as vigilant and will continue to be visible and maintain zero-tolerance approach in preventing crime in their policing areas.”
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has been informed about the incident. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Cops kill five robbers in gun battles
Villagers and police joined in to chase down the suspects.
Six surviving suspects were arrested and will appear in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court on Monday charged with business robbery and attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and possession of a hijacked vehicle, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.
The suspects from KwaZulu-Natal were aged between 23 and 45.
Eleven armed men robbed a shop in the Mbayi village in the Mfinizweni administration area near Lusikisiki at 7am yesterday,” Fatyela said.
“They assaulted an elderly woman shopkeeper before escaping with a substantial amount of cash for yesterday earnings. There was to be a social grant pay out at the village and the robbers might have heard there was money around.
“The owner raised the alarm and police chased the robbers who were in two getaway vehicles. “The robbers opened fire and police were forced to retaliate,” Fatyela said.
The robbers abandoned their vehicles and ran into the forest followed by police and villagers. “Again there was a gun battle between the robbers and police and some were shot dead. Others were shot dead later on,” Fatyela added.
The robbers ran through the villages of Mfinezweni, Qathula, Mgojweni and Qawukeni which are far apart, and situated in mountains and forests.
In each village members of the community joined the chase.
One suspect was shot dead at Qathulu and the others ran into a forest at Mgojweni. “Again there was a gun battle and two men were shot dead and three others were shot dead later on at Qawuken near the AmaMpondo great place.”
Police from Port St Johns, Lusikisiki and Flagstaff were part of the operation.
Fatyela applauded the villagers for refusing to hide the gang. “This is the kind of working relationship we need between police and the community. Members of the community risked their lives for the sake of fighting crime. We take off our hats for the support we received from those communities.
“The drama ended up at about 1pm with the arrest of the six men.
“Four 9mm pistols have been found in their possession. Only one firearm, a shotgun, has not been found yet,” Fatyela added.
All the stolen cash was found and the vehicles – one reported hijacked in Durban– were also found.
Fatyela said while a shopkeeper was hospitalised she was not badly wounded.
Provincial SAPS commissioner, Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta commended the community members for their alertness, saying: “The police in the province are committed to clamping down on crime and criminal activities.
“These arrests must send a message that SAPS members in the rural areas are as vigilant and will continue to be visible and maintain zero-tolerance approach in preventing crime in their policing areas.”
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has been informed about the incident. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos