LIMPOPO – Two suspected armed robbers died in a crash in the Marble Hall policing area on Tuesday morning, hours after a violent business robbery at a filling station in Dennilton, Sekhukhune District.

Firearms and ammunition recovered from the crashed vehicle have been positively linked to the two deceased suspects and the robbery.

The robbery

At approximately 2:30 AM, about 13 unknown African males, armed with handguns and rifles, allegedly stormed a filling station at Moteti Complex, Dennilton.

The suspects accosted the security guards and cashier before proceeding to the cash office, where they used an explosive device to breach the drop safe.

They subsequently fled the premises on foot while firing several shots. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen from the safe.

Members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit took over the crime scene and commenced with the investigation. Several pistol and rifle cartridges were recovered at the scene.

The crash

At approximately 5:10 AM, police received information that a vehicle with Mpumalanga registration plates had overturned along the R573 road between Slaagboom and Siyabuswa, towards Marble Hall.

Upon arrival, police found two male occupants at the scene. The driver was certified dead at the scene, while the passenger had sustained serious head injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment.

Firearms and ammunition recovered

During the processing of the crash scene, police recovered the following:

• One R5 rifle
• Two R5 magazines
• 56 R5 rounds of ammunition
• Two 9mm pistols
• One 9mm empty magazine
• One 9mm round of ammunition

Cases of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and culpable homicide were registered at Marble Hall Saps.

Suspects identified

The two deceased suspects were subsequently identified as males aged 34 and 35 respectively.

Preliminary investigations have positively linked both deceased suspects to the filling station business robbery in Dennilton.

The investigation is continuing, with police working to identify and apprehend the remaining perpetrators.