One robber was killed in a shootout between police and five robbers that were armed. This incident happened in Komga outside East London on Monday morning, 1 August.
The incident unfolded just after 7 am when the suspects armed with pistols and assault rifles ordered the manager of a local business to hand over the keys to the safe and lock the staff inside the storeroom. After police were alerted about the robbery, they responded and immediately called back up from the Tactical Response Unit and the National Intervention Unit. The heavily armed suspects allegedly opened fire on police when they arrived on the scene, and the police retaliated.
The shootout was intense, leading to one suspect dead and three wounded. The fifth suspect gave up and is in police custody, while his three accomplices are in hospital for medical attention under police guard.
South African Police Service spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said they have confiscated a stolen vehicle, a pistol, two assualt rifles and a grinder from the alleged suspects. Ages of the suspects are between 30 and 40, they are expected to appear in the Komga Magistrate Court once they have been charged.
Eastern Cape Minister of Transport and Community Safety Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe, commended police for their response and great job in protecting themselves and the community at large in the shootout.
Tikana-Gxotiwe said, “We salute our police officers for putting their lives on the line to protect people of this province. This clearly shows that police officers are doing a good job day in and day out. Five less criminals are out of our streets.”
