Gauteng police intercept suspected robbery getaway vehicle on Allandale Road in Midrand. Picture Credit: Arrive Alive
By Aisha Zardad
Johannesburg — A suspected business robber was shot dead and two other suspects arrested after a high-speed police chase and shootout in Midrand on Friday afternoon, Gauteng police said.
The incident followed reports of a business robbery in Olievenhoutbosch earlier in the day, prompting Gauteng Highway Patrol officers to be on the lookout for a Hyundai i20 linked to the incident.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said “the vehicle was spotted on Allandale Road and upon seeing the police lights, it sped off, resulting in a high-speed chase and shootout,” she said.
The pursuit ended at the corner of Allandale Road and Waterfall Drive, where a shootout occurred. One of the three occupants was fatally wounded in the exchange and was declared dead at the scene, while the other two were arrested. A firearm and an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be linked to the robbery were also seized by police.
The chase and fatal shootout come amid ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb violent crime and robberies in the province. Nevhuhulwi confirmed that investigations into the robbery and subsequent pursuit are continuing.
In a separate but recent incident on January 14, Gauteng police were involved in another shootout with suspects along the N12 near Soweto, in which three suspects were fatally wounded during a high-speed pursuit.
Gauteng Police Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni praised the coordinated operational response by multiple police units and partners, saying the collaboration was key to apprehending suspects and removing violent offenders from the streets.
