Shootout on R59 leaves two suspects dead
This incident marks the third violent confrontation between suspects and law enforcement officials on the R59 in recent months.
The story first appeared in the printed edition of Ster North. Get our newspaper on Tuesdays/Wednesdays for all the latest local news.
RANDVAAL – A dramatic shootout between members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and a group of armed suspects unfolded in broad daylight along the R59 afternoon on Thursday October 31.
The incident left two suspects dead and a police officer injured.
The confrontation occurred near the Witkop Blockhouse, drawing the attention of motorists and bystanders alike.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni reported that police intercepted the suspects, who were allegedly en route to commit a business robbery.
“Our officers acted swiftly to stop the vehicles the suspects were traveling in,” Mthombeni stated.
The suspects opened fire, prompting police to return fire, ultimately resulting in two suspects being fatally wounded.
In the chaos, an unknown number of the suspects managed to escape in a second vehicle, while another lost control and rolled the vehicle in a nearby veld.
Police later established that this vehicle had been stolen in Alexandra earlier in September.
A firearm was also recovered from the abandoned vehicle, further intensifying the investigation.
This incident marks the third violent confrontation between suspects and law enforcement officials on the R59 in recent months.
Mthombeni highlighted a worrying trend, noting that the R59 has become a hotspot for criminal activity, with a total of eight suspects fatally shot during previous engagements with police.
Earlier in October, four suspects were killed in a similar shootout near the Brackendowns offramp, where police seized four firearms.
As investigators combed the scene for evidence, traffic along the busy highway was severely disrupted.
Two police helicopters were deployed to assist, while motorists were rerouted through the Engen Blockhouse filling station.
A police officer was airlifted to a nearby hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg.
Mthombeni praised the collaborative efforts between the police and community stakeholders, a strategy endorsed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, to combat rising crime in the area.
Mthombeni hopes this sends out a strong message to criminals.
“People involved in criminal activities – cash-in-transit heists, extortion, business robberies – have to know they will meet their match. They will feel the heat if they don’t stop what they are doing. It will be like sitting on top of a fire,” Mthombeni said.
