Five men wanted for a spate of armed robberies in Lusikiki and Mthatha were killed in a shootout with police on the N2 in the Alfred Nzo district on Wednesday.
Among those who died in the fierce gun exchange were Andile Nkohla, 28, Zola Khala, 27, Madida Njoko, 27, and Shasha Ketwa, 27. Police were still trying to identify the fifth suspect yesterday afternoon.
They were on the SAPS list of most wanted suspects in connection with a number of business robberies. A sixth man escaped by throwing himself down a cliff. He is still at large.
The shootout occurred on Wednesday about 5km from the small town of eMaXesibeni (formerly Mount Ayliff) just after 5pm.
Last month police shot dead four wanted suspects in Lusikisiki and police suspect Wednesday’s gang, which specialised in armed robberies, had worked together with the gang killed last month.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said the men were on their way to commit an armed robbery at a supermarket in Ntabankulu when they were intercepted by specialised units such as crime intelligence, the tactical response team (TRT) and public order police (POPS).
“We set up a checkpoint on that stretch of road and waited for them. Some of our members were tailing them from a distance, so when they saw police the driver of the vehicle stopped and his friends got out and opened fire,” Fatyela said.
One police officer was hit in the chest but was not wounded as he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Fatyela said the tailing police vehicle arrived amid fierce gunfire and also fired on the suspects. Fatyela said the five men were hit and died on the scene.
The police watchdog body, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), will conduct its own investigation.
Fatyela said the events were set in motion when police were tipped off about heavily armed men travelling in a grey Polo GTI intending to rob a grocery store in Ntabankulu just before closing time.
He said police followed up on the information and tailed the suspects.
“Two AK-47s, an R1 rifle, four pistols and more than 1000 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the scene of the shooting.”
The Dispatch was provided with graphic pictures of the aftermath of the shooting where the men are seen lying dead next to their vehicle.
An AK-47 and pistol can be seen lying next to them.
The men are also believed to have taken part in an armed robbery at Boxer Super Store and Metro Cash and Carry in Lusikisiki last month where a large amount of cash was taken. The robbers exchanged gunfire with members of the National Intervention Unit while fleeing the scene with R59000.
Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga said yesterday that police would maintain a zero-tolerance approach in their policing areas. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Five killed in shootout with cops on N2
Among those who died in the fierce gun exchange were Andile Nkohla, 28, Zola Khala, 27, Madida Njoko, 27, and Shasha Ketwa, 27. Police were still trying to identify the fifth suspect yesterday afternoon.
They were on the SAPS list of most wanted suspects in connection with a number of business robberies. A sixth man escaped by throwing himself down a cliff. He is still at large.
The shootout occurred on Wednesday about 5km from the small town of eMaXesibeni (formerly Mount Ayliff) just after 5pm.
Last month police shot dead four wanted suspects in Lusikisiki and police suspect Wednesday’s gang, which specialised in armed robberies, had worked together with the gang killed last month.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said the men were on their way to commit an armed robbery at a supermarket in Ntabankulu when they were intercepted by specialised units such as crime intelligence, the tactical response team (TRT) and public order police (POPS).
“We set up a checkpoint on that stretch of road and waited for them. Some of our members were tailing them from a distance, so when they saw police the driver of the vehicle stopped and his friends got out and opened fire,” Fatyela said.
One police officer was hit in the chest but was not wounded as he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Fatyela said the tailing police vehicle arrived amid fierce gunfire and also fired on the suspects. Fatyela said the five men were hit and died on the scene.
The police watchdog body, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), will conduct its own investigation.
Fatyela said the events were set in motion when police were tipped off about heavily armed men travelling in a grey Polo GTI intending to rob a grocery store in Ntabankulu just before closing time.
He said police followed up on the information and tailed the suspects.
“Two AK-47s, an R1 rifle, four pistols and more than 1000 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the scene of the shooting.”
The Dispatch was provided with graphic pictures of the aftermath of the shooting where the men are seen lying dead next to their vehicle.
An AK-47 and pistol can be seen lying next to them.
The men are also believed to have taken part in an armed robbery at Boxer Super Store and Metro Cash and Carry in Lusikisiki last month where a large amount of cash was taken. The robbers exchanged gunfire with members of the National Intervention Unit while fleeing the scene with R59000.
Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga said yesterday that police would maintain a zero-tolerance approach in their policing areas. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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