[imagesource: News24]
Gauteng’s top policemen intercepted a dangerous gang known for cash-in-transit heists just before they could attempt their next one in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, on Monday afternoon.
The frightening shootout, which has been described as a “warzone” by eyewitnesses and a “hostage drama” by paramedics on the scene, killed eight people and injured many, including four officers.
It is alleged that the violent incident occurred at the suspects’ safe house, per Police Minister Bheki Cele, who was one of the top officers to rush to the scene.
Two Netcare911 helicopters were dispatched to the area to tend to those who had been critically shot but ended up getting involved in the shootout, with the helicopter crew getting wounded, too, per News24.
Residents nearby caught some of the action on camera:
This is from another street:
Here’s TimesLIVE with more:
Cele described the suspects, armed with AK-47 rifles, as “heartless people who are prepared to kill”. He said some of them were from KwaZulu-Natal, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
He said the gang numbered about 25 in total. They were using high-performance vehicles which had been hijacked.
ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring adds more:
“Medics found a man lying in the road while two other men were found in a light motor vehicle. Five other men were found in the nearby premises. All eight men were assessed and found to have succumbed to their numerous gunshot wounds. Nothing could be done for them, and they were declared dead.
Four of the law enforcement officers involved on the scene were taken across the road to South Rand Hospital for urgent treatment.
Cele added that officers managed to recover five hijacked or stolen “top cars” from the scene, lamenting that “one just wishes that there is no owner that was killed in that process”.
These are some of the weapons found on the scene once the suspects had been cleared, mostly AK-47s with double magazines and R4s:
There were also explosives and lots of petrol found at the scene.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela mentioned that SAPS had been keeping a close eye on the movements of the “real, hardcore criminals” since last week:
“Last week they didn’t commit their crime, so today they decided to commit their crime [but] our teams were just behind them and when they realised that here are the police, they were rushing to their safe house. That is when our team, highly trained have dealt with them.”
A witness said that the scene felt like something straight out of a “war movie”:
“Sh*t those bullets sounded like it was two countries fighting over territory. Bullets were coming from all directions. Some came from the chopper, officers on the ground and in cars.
“Those criminals were heavily armed. They were ready for war,” she recounted.
One resident in the area bravely stepped out to capture the sound of guns all around:
BREAKING: 5-6 suspects killed after fierce gun battle with police in #Rosettenville. Two officers sustained gunshot wounds and have been airlifted to hospital pic.twitter.com/IlIUSEbr3q
— BlueHawkTactical (@Bluehawktactic1) February 21, 2022
Other eyewitnesses spoke about how upon hearing the insane shooting, they hid under beds and on the floor as criminals ran through their yards and bullets damaged their property.
The damage looks to be quite extensive:
The aftermath:
@Abramjee, Active crime scene at the Hill, Linmeyer area, on the same street as South Rand Hospital. 5 Robbers managed to hit #Saint Martin school. According to people on the ground, 2 managed to got away, 1 was injured & other 2 have taken a woman hostage in her house. pic.twitter.com/wMj7lJZCef
— Serge T. Moundanga (@SergeTachini) February 21, 2022
Cele also confirm that eight people had been arrested.
