Cape Town – Eight men suspected of being illegal miners and possibly involved in a highway robbery on Tuesday were arrested following a shootout with Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers in Primrose, Germiston.
The arrests came after officers responded to reports of armed individuals robbing motorists at the Crown Interchange on the M1.
Upon arrival, officers witnessed two groups of men engaged in a shootout.
“As the officers arrived at the given location, they saw two groups of males shooting at each other. When the suspects noticed the officers they started shooting at them and the officers returned fire.
Eight male suspects were arrested with one of them sustaining serious injuries following an exchange of gunfire with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers from the Tactical Response Unit at Main Reef Road and Shamrock Street, Primrose, Germiston.… pic.twitter.com/G9FoJC1D5A
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) February 21, 2024
“Amid the shootout, the officers saw a suspect fall to the ground, and backup was called. When the backup from SAPS Primrose, the Flying Squad and the Airwing arrived, the officers entered the open veld area where they found one male lying on the ground with a wound and a rifle next to him.
“A further seven suspects were apprehended by the officers. Gauteng EMS attended to the injured suspect, who was taken to Germiston Hospital for further treatment under police guard,” said JMPD in a statement.
The arrested individuals, South African and Lesotho nationals, face charges of attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, and illegal mining.
The injured suspect received medical attention under police guard.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
