eblockwatch founder Andre Snyman has praised law enforcement officials following their swift response to an active crime scene on the N1 North, between Winnie Mandela Drive and Rivonia Road, in Gauteng yesterday.

Fourways Review reports that Snyman rushed to the scene after a report came through about a suspected hijacked vehicle on the freeway. Authorities had closed off the highway to apprehend a suspect.

He captured a video, shared with Fourways Review, showing a helicopter parked on the road alongside police officers and Fidelity security personnel.

Snyman explained that he had been alerted by one of his eBlockwatch members about police activity in the area. “I was informed that cops were flying over, so I drove straight to the scene,” he said.

In a voice note shared with Fourways Review, a man at the scene described the chaos:

“I was driving on my way to a meeting when these cars overtook me, and then the next thing was a shoot-out. The man in the car, I think he was hijacked, went to hit my car, stopped in front of me, bailed out, and the cops came in and started shooting. I was the last car through, so they taped up the road.”

Snyman added: “What else can I tell you? It’s another day in South Africa. You know, the saddest thing is it’s right next to St Peter’s Girls College. I mean, the shoot-out and the bullets flying around, you can just think of how dangerous it must have been. This is the way we’re going to take on our criminals.”

In the video, a Fidelity security officer can be seen telling Snyman there were people in the car, though he was unsure how many.

SAPS spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo later confirmed that three house robbery suspects were killed during a shoot-out with police.

SAPS responds

According to SAPS, a joint operation by multiple law enforcement agencies resulted in the dismantling of a notorious house robbery syndicate.

Police spokesperson Captian Mavela Masondo says operational teams, including SAPS Gauteng Highway Patrol, SAPS National Counter Intelligence, Gauteng Traffic Airwing and CAP Specialised Operations, followed up on intelligence regarding a group of suspects involved in a series of house robberies.

The suspects, who were using a silver Toyota with false registration plates, were tracked down to the Randburg area, where they were spotted leaving a property at high speed along Vine Street.

“A high-speed chase ensued. Members successfully intercepted and apprehended the suspects on the N1 South near Sandton,” says Masondo.

He says during the arrest, a shoot-out occurred, resulting in three suspects being fatally wounded.

“One suspect was arrested on the scene. Recovered items during the operation were two unlicensed firearms and ammunition, a white VW Polo stolen during the robbery, multiple stolen household items, and the suspects’ getaway vehicle, a silver Toyota.”

Masondo says investigations confirmed that the suspects had just committed a house robbery in the Randburg policing area, where a homeowner was held at gunpoint and several valuable items, including a vehicle, were stolen.

“The team believes this group may be linked to several other house robbery cases committed within Gauteng province this year. The arrested suspect, a known repeat offender, is expected to appear soon at the nearest designated magistrate’s court.”

• This article was amended after first being published to include SAPS comment.

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