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On Friday, in South Africa’s northeast, a police operation resulted in the unfortunate loss of eighteen lives during a shootout. The police had reportedly engaged with individuals they believed were planning to commit a robbery against a cash truck.
Upon the police’s arrival at the specified address, the group of suspects initiated gunfire, prompting a swift response from the police,” stated the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“Sixteen males and two females were pronounced deceased at the scene.”
One police officer sustained “serious injuries” and was promptly transported for medical attention, revealed SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola during a press conference in Makhado, Limpopo province, located approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) northeast of Johannesburg.
The exchange of gunfire endured for approximately 90 minutes, as conveyed by Masemola.
According to the police, who had been monitoring the suspects’ activities for several days, an investigation commenced in January with the assistance of the country’s intelligence unit.
“Our objective was to apprehend them before they could carry out the crime,” Masemola stated.
Incidents involving cash truck heists occur frequently in the crime-plagued southern African nation.
In the previous year, a total of 10 suspects lost their lives during a cash-in-transit exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. This occurred after the potential robbers opened fire on a police helicopter, injuring one of the pilots.
In May police minister Bheki Cele said there was a “stubborn increase” in cash-in-transit robberies of more than 20 percent, with 64 cases reported during the first three months of the year.
The crime statistics, which are presented by the minister every quarter in a live broadcast, have been steadily rising over the past few months in a country that has one of the highest crime rates in the world.
Police have said they are “clamping down on serious and violent crimes throughout the country”.
Four individuals were apprehended in relation to the purported cash truck robbery scheme after being discovered in yet another secure location.
Masemola disclosed the presence of a prepared explosive device, intended for use in targeting one of the cash depots within the province.
The suspects had strategized to employ an ambulance for the transportation of the stolen funds to Gauteng province, located within the country.
