2 Zimbabweans among the 19 dead in Makhado, SA sho...

2 Zimbabweans among the 19 dead in Makhado, SA shootout with police

Zim Now Writer

Two Zimbabweans are reported to be among 19 people killed in a shootout with police in Makhado, South Africa, on Friday evening.

Police believe that they are connected to the recent spike in cash-in-transit robberies in three provinces.

The suspects allegedly opened fire on the police, which led to a 90-minute shootout.

South African police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe was still to respond to questions regarding further details, including the identities of the deceased.

However, according to the South African Broadcasting Services, among the bodies recovered from the house in Makhado, Louis Tritchardt, were two Zimbabweans.

“The sixteen men and two women were killed in a shootout after police tracked them for three days. It is believed the 18 are linked to the 11 cash heists that occurred around the province since the beginning of the year.

“Two Zimbabwean nationals who were part of the syndicate are believed to be among the dead suspects,” the SABC reported.

The remains of the dead were taken to Tshilidzini Government Hospital, 70 kilometres east of Makhado, where relatives had been asked to come yesterday to identify the bodies.

South Africa National police commissioner Fannie Masemola on Saturday said the suspects were planning a cash-in-transit heist and were responsible for similar crimes in other provinces.

“We do believe this syndicate has been involved in a number of CITs in this province, Mpumalanga andGauteng,” Masemola said.

A police officer, who was injured in the shootout, had his leg amputated.

Initially, police announced that 18 people had died in the shootout, however, another body was discovered when the house was further searched after the shootout.

Masemola said on the day firearms and explosives had been brought into the house and the police believed the suspects were planning a heist.

Several Zimbabwean criminals hide and operate in South Africa where they allegedly co-ordinate some robberies in Zimbabwe.