During an attempted armed robbery in Durban, two SAPS and seven suspected robbers were killed on Friday night in the Hlabisa area of KwaZulu-Natal.
Brigadier Vishnu Naido, SAPS spokesperson, said the incident happened around 7:00 pm when the seven men, all heavily armed, attacked a security vehicle transporting cash. They used explosives to gain access to the vaults on the vehicle that were holding the cash.
Both the STF (Special Task Force) and CI (Crime Intelligence) were called in to follow up on the knowledge that a cash-in transit vehicle was going to be robbed.
SAPS responded quickly and resulted in a shoot-out with the group of armed robbers. Reports indicate that seven suspects, along with a member from CI and one from STF have all been killed in the shoot-out. One female member managed to escape the shoot-out with a wound to the leg and is currently recovering.
Upon the items recovered were four AK47 assualt weapons and a BMW, that has been used in other robberies as well.
SAPS national commissioner, Leutenit-General Khehla John Sitole gave heart-felt condolences to the families of the police officers who lost thier lives in the line of duty.
This is yet another sad day for both the South African Police Service as well as South Africa at large, for every time the life of a police officer is lost in combat the nation mourns. SAPS national commissioner
Sitole
The national commission also extended the highest praise for the bravery of the officers who put thier lives at risk.
I offer my highest praise to all our colleagues that have once again put their lives on the line to bring hardened and selfish criminals to book. SAPS national commissioner
Sitole
