The City Manager, Dr Floyd Brink welcomed, with deep satisfaction, the conviction of 11 members of the cash-in-transit heist gang responsible for the deadly The Hill shootout on February 21, 2022.

The deadly shootout happened mainly at the corner of Frairs Hill and Gotthard roads, The Hill. Those involved were part of a group of criminals from KwaZulu-Natal, Botswana and mostly from Zimbabwe.

The then Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, said on that day: “The suspects killed today were hard-core criminals and had been under police surveillance since last week and were involved in cash-in-transit heist robberies in Dawn Park and other areas.”

The 11 men were found guilty on multiple charges, including murder, in connection with the failed cash-in-transit heist at The Hill, during which eight of their fellow gang members were killed in a confrontation with authorities.

Presiding Judge Shanaaz Mia found the State’s case to be “coherent and probable” in light of the totality of evidence presented. The convicted will return to court in May for sentencing proceedings.

Brink said this outcome is the fruit of years of meticulous, coordinated investigative and prosecutorial work, and a powerful demonstration of what is possible when law enforcement agencies combine their resources, intelligence, and resolve in service of the public.

City commends law enforcement

“The City extends its unequivocal commendation to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) K9 Unit and the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre’s (IIOC) Reaction Unit [now redesignated the Tactical Response Unit (TRU)], whose operational precision and disciplined engagement in the south of Johannesburg were instrumental in neutralising this syndicate.

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“Authorities had received intelligence about a planned robbery, including the address at which the perpetrators were allegedly planning their next heist, enabling a decisive and coordinated response. The professionalism displayed by these units under extreme operational pressure exemplifies the calibre of service this City expects and demands from its public safety officers.

“Equal recognition is owed to the South African Police Service Crime Intelligence division and the various law enforcement agencies whose collaborative contribution ensured that the case was built not merely on physical confrontation, but on a sustained, evidence-led chain of custody capable of withstanding the rigours of judicial scrutiny. This conviction, secured years after the incident itself, reflects the depth and durability of that investigative effort,” he said.

The confrontation at The Hill occurred after a heavily armed gang [prepared, the judge found, for violent engagement] was intercepted in the south of Johannesburg. Eight of their accomplices died in the firefight that followed. Eleven survivors now face sentencing.

For the families of those affected and for residents across Johannesburg who live daily with the fear of violent crime, this verdict carries weight. It signals that the City will pursue justice patiently, rigorously, and without compromise.

Joburg City safety strategy

“This conviction also arrives at a pivotal moment in the City’s institutional approach to public safety. The Johannesburg City Council has recently approved the revised Joburg City Safety Strategy (JCSS 2025) and its accompanying Implementation Plan; a milestone that represents a decisive shift in how the City understands, plans for, and delivers on urban safety.

“For many years, safety was viewed primarily as a policing mandate, the preserve of the JMPD and the South African Police Service. The JCSS 2025 fundamentally reframes this perspective, recognising that safety is a shared responsibility across the entire administration. Whether an official enforces by-laws, maintains critical infrastructure, manages parks, responds to emergencies, or leads community development programmes, their work contributes directly to building a safer Johannesburg.

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“The JCSS 2025 is anchored in three mutually reinforcing programmes, Safety Promotion, Crime Reduction, and Crime Prevention, which, deployed collectively, position Johannesburg for long-term, sustainable improvement in its safety outcomes. The Hill conviction speaks directly to the Crime Reduction programme, which focuses on reducing the incidence of criminality and lawlessness through targeted enforcement, dismantling organised crime structures, and the consistent application of the rule of law.

“From the 2026/27 financial year, all relevant departments will be required to integrate JCSS 2025 interventions and indicators into their Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plans (SDBIPs) and Business Plans. Progress will be monitored through a Power BI-enabled tracking tool to support accountability, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making at every level of the administration,” noted Brink.

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Every official is encouraged to engage with the strategy, reflect meaningfully on how their daily work contributes to the safety of Johannesburg’s residents, and bring forward ideas that can strengthen implementation. The JCSS 2025 is calibrated to the real and evolving safety challenges this city faces.

He concluded, “The Hill conviction is a moment worth marking. It is proof that sustained, intelligence-driven, multi-agency law enforcement produces results. It is proof that the men and women of the JMPD are capable of rising to the most demanding challenges this city presents. And it is proof that when Johannesburg commits to a course of action [when its institutions align, its people collaborate, and its strategy is grounded in evidence] justice prevails.

“Together, we can build a Johannesburg that is not only economically strong, but truly safe for all who live, work, and move within it,” he said.

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