Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

07 February 2023

Two suspects aged 39 and 40 were arrested whilst the third one was fatally shot by the police after reportedly staging a robbery on Monday,06 February 2023 on the R29 Road in Leandra around 09h00.

According to the report a group of armed suspects attacked security guards who were carrying bags of money destined to an undisclosed location in Leandra.

As the security guards walked with the bags of cash, it is alleged that the suspects suddenly opened fire on them but luckily no one was injured at the time.

The suspects then robbed the guards of the cash bags.

Police at Leandra were alerted about the incident, and they swiftly responded.

One of the suspects inside a silver-grey VW Polo was shot during a shootout.

Police managed to corner the two suspects near business shops believed to have been part of the group of robbers and arrested them.

Although some of the suspects managed to evade the arrest, police vow not to back down and promise to pursue them.

Three firearms, one pistol as well as two revolvers were confiscated from the suspects.

Police further recovered three of the cash bags which were reportedly stolen during the robbery. 

The recovered firearms will be taken for ballistic testing to determine whether they were not used previously in the commission of crime.

The suspect who was shot was certified dead by the paramedics on the scene of the crime.

The two suspects who were aprehended will be charged for armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms with ammunition.

The duo will appear at the Leandra Periodical Court on Wednesday, 08 February 2023 facing the said charges.

Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges as the investigation continues.

A team of investigators has been formed to gather more information regarding the robbery, including the determination of the amount of cash robbed by the suspects.

Police urge members of the public to notify them on their whereabouts of the suspects by calling the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.

All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the arrest of the two suspects. The General is adamant that as the investigation proceeds, other unresolved cases of a similar nature will be solved.