One Zimbabwean suspect shot dead, Two injured
By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
One suspect was shot dead while two of his accomplices sustained injuries in an alleged shootout with the police following a business robbery at Elukwatini in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 6 November.
The three suspects, all Zimbabwean nationals, reportedly robbed one of the local filling stations at Nhlazatshe Crossing and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, as well as cigarettes and betting vouchers.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Captain Magonseni Nkosi, said the three suspects were cornered inside a rented room by Elukwatini SAPS and members of a private security company before the shootout ensued
ā We are informed that they(suspects) were still counting the cash believed to have been stolen during the said business robbery,ā said Captain Nkosi.
The suspects reportedly refused to comply with the instruction to open the door after the police entered the premises. Captain Nkosi said the suspects fired shots from inside the room and the police were left with no choice but to fire back while penetrating the room.
ā The three suspects were found inside the room with gunshot wounds. Some of the items that were retrieved from the room include an undisclosed amount of cash as well as a firearm,ā said Captain Nkosi.
He added that a police investigation is underway to establish the identity of the deceased suspect who succumbed to injuries on arrival at the hospital. The other two suspects were reportedly apprehended and are receiving medical attention under police guard.
According to Captain Nkosi, the former Station Commander of Elukwatini SAPS, Colonel Beauty Marivate, was fatally shot by suspects in December 2021 as she responded to a business robbery in the area.
The Acting Mpumalanga Provincial Police Commissioner, Major-General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, said the recently launched 2024/2025 Safer Festive Season Operation will ensure that crime is prevented and fought diligently by law enforcement agencies.
ā We will never allow criminals to do as they wish. If anyone dares to attack, our members will not fold their arms with the tools of trade in their hands. Members know the drill,ā said General Mkhwanazi.
Captain Nkosi said the two injured suspects will appear at the Elukwatini Magistrateās Court soon and the shooting incident is subject to an investigation by IPID(Independent Police Investigative Directorate) in order to ensure transparency and fairness with regard to understanding what really transpired.
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.