Three rifles, ammunition and explosives were found in the car of the four men shot dead by police on the N12 near the Putfontein off-ramp on Friday morning.
The four men were killed in a shootout with police after they opened fire first on the officers.
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“This morning, during routine patrols conducted in our quest to ensure police visibility, a suspicious silver Mercedes-Benz was spotted by members of Johannesburg Flying Squad on patrol in peak hour traffic. This vehicle had been reported as hijacked in the Yeoville area in April,” said acting national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane.
The officers ordered the driver to stop but the occupants responded by opening fire on police, which resulted in a shootout.
Phahlane said one of the police members sustained injuries when he was shot in the leg by the suspects.
Accordingly, members responded to ward off the attack and in the process all four armed suspects in the Mercedes-Benz were fatally wounded.
“The police will continue to ensure visibility on the streets of our country and confront, within the confines of our laws, all those whose aim is to make life difficult for our people to do their day to day business without any fear. The response by our members this morning must be commended by all of us in that they sent a strong message to all criminals that crime and criminality cannot be tolerated,” Phahlane added.
“Members of the SAPS and the law abiding citizens of our country cannot continue to be harassed by a few in our society, thus we must all take our rightful place in the fight against crime. Criminals must understand that it is business unusual; criminality cannot be tolerated.
“Members of the police will exercise maximum restraint, but when the situation calls for the maximum use of force, they will do so within the confines of the law,” said Phahlane.
The South African Police Service’s management has, since April 1, implemented operations in response to the increasing trio crimes committed across the country, especially in Gauteng.
