SAPS national commissioner General Fannie Masemola has applauded the team involved in foiling a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Dobsonville in Soweto on Saturday.

A preliminary report suggests that police were following up on information about a planned CIT robbery. They went to the scene, where they intercepted the suspects before they could execute their plan to bomb a CIT van.

When they arrived, the suspects opened fire on the law enforcement officers, who returned fire.

Two suspects were fatally wounded.

Police recovered an R5 rifle, three AK47s and three vehicles that were used in the commission of the crime.

Masemola says police will continue to deal decisively with serious and violent crime.

“Our intelligence operators are on the ground and our teams are on high alert. We cannot rule with criminals, it’s either them or us.

“Our focus is to ensure the safety and security of law-abiding citizens.

“We will continue to sharpen our focus and clamp down on serious and violent crime to apprehend and ensure [the] successful conviction of those behind CIT crimes in the country,” he adds.

Police have launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects, who fled on foot.

Anyone who has information about the incident is urged to contact the Dobsonville Police Station.