In a dramatic police operation, five suspected cash-in-transit robbers were shot dead during a high-speed chase and gunfight with police in Crown Mine, Johannesburg, on Thursday afternoon. The suspects were reportedly planning another robbery when they were intercepted by law enforcement officers.
According to Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, police received intelligence about a gang of suspects preparing to carry out a cash-in-transit robbery in Johannesburg. Acting swiftly, an operational team set up surveillance and tracked the suspects’ vehicle on the M1/M2 highway split. When the robbers realized they were being followed, they attempted to flee, resulting in a high-speed chase.
Nevhuhulwi explained that the suspects opened fire on the pursuing officers, forcing the police to return fire. The confrontation ended when the suspects’ vehicle crashed into a palisade fence. “All five occupants were fatally shot during the exchange of gunfire,” she confirmed.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle used by the gang was linked to a previous cash-in-transit heist and murder committed on July 14, 2025, in Kingsley, KwaZulu-Natal. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered an arsenal of weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, a pistol, and explosives, indicating the gang’s readiness for another violent robbery.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, commended the success of the operation, highlighting the importance of collaboration between law enforcement units across provinces. “This operation was a result of joint efforts by the KwaZulu-Natal Tactical Response Team, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in both Gauteng and KZN, Gauteng Traffic Police, and private security companies,” he said. “These collaborative efforts are yielding positive results and send a clear message to criminals that the police will not rest until they are brought to justice.”
The latest incident underscores the growing challenge of cash-in-transit heists in South Africa, which have been on the rise in recent years. Criminal syndicates targeting armored vehicles and cash depots have become increasingly sophisticated, often heavily armed and willing to engage in deadly confrontations with police.
Experts argue that intelligence-driven operations, like the one conducted on Thursday, are key to curbing these violent crimes. Police often rely on tips, surveillance, and inter-provincial cooperation to track syndicates before they strike. In this case, it was timely intelligence that prevented what could have been another brazen cash heist.
Authorities are continuing investigations to determine whether the five suspects were linked to other robberies across the country. Given the weapons and explosives found in their possession, police believe they were part of a larger, organized network.
Lieutenant General Mthombeni assured the public that law enforcement agencies will intensify efforts to dismantle such gangs. “We will continue to deal decisively with criminal elements who terrorize our communities. Our teams remain on high alert to prevent further incidents,” he stated.
The shootout is the latest in a string of successful police operations targeting cash-in-transit gangs, following several deadly confrontations in recent months.
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