Five suspected ATM bombers killed and one (1) arrested in a shootout with the Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS) of the Hawks, the SAPS Special Task Force (STF), Bidvest Protea Coin, SAPS Head Office Crime Intelligence’s Modus Operandi Detection Operational Centre (MDOC) and Falcon Risk Security in Emalahleni, Witbank in the early hours of Monday morning.
The team was following up on information (Project Leopard) regarding ATM bombing that was to transpire in the Witbank area.
Information was operationalised leading the team to Schoongezicht in Emalahleni where the group was reported to be converging at an alleged safe house.
The multi-disciplinary team were strategically posted to be on the lookout for the white Toyota Hilux received in the intelligence information. The identified vehicle was spotted driving out from the area and when the team attempted to stop the vehicle, suspects opened fire, and a shootout ensued.
Five (5) suspects were fatally wounded and one (1) injured. Six firearms, an AR-5 rifle (said to have been robbed from a Fidelity guard as per KwaMhlanga Cas 220/11/2024), 2 x hunting rifles with a scope and three 9mm pistols as well as explosives were recovered on the scene. The bakkie in which the suspects were travelling in, is subject to further investigation and thus far has been linked to four cases in KwaMhlanga, three cases in Dennilton and one case in Lydenburg.
The National Head of the DPCI, Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv.) Godfrey Lebeya commended the work of the TOMS and STF.
He said, “A call is made to potential robbers to withdraw from such activities as these behaviours always attract dire consequences. The team shall always be on alert.”
A closed source to Tshwane Talks who wish to remain anonymous said the five men who were killed in Witbank are from Mamelodi East and some stay in Phase 1 section and they specialised in heist and ATM bombing. The rifles and pistols that was used by the men they borrow it from notorious gang in Mamelodi Boko Haram gangster.
The notorious gang were expecting payment after the job but unfortunately, they won’t get a cent because they are dead and one arrested.
The men been planning this heist for weeks and they been getting information from a close source in Witbank.
The men before committing the crime they all went and see traditional healer, prophet of their choice so they come back alive and come back with money.
“The men uses muthi and every time they go and commit crime. The muthi is for them to come back alive and to come back with the money and for the police not to catch them,” said anonymous.
Anonymous said the men traveled to Witbank on Sunday night with a bakkie and with rifles and pistol and ready to come back with the money. On the morning of Monday, they hit bombed the ATM and left with the cash, unfortunately were caught on the way back and police tried to stop them, but they refused to stop, and they started to shoot the police and police fired back.
“These men love fancy lifestyle and every time they went to do heist or ATM bombing and got away with it, they buy expensive clothes, perfurm, spoil their women and also buy expensive whisky and they just do party and enjoy the money like nobody business,” said anonymous.
Anonymous further said the men travel the across the country committing crime and do ATM bombing but unfortunately this time their luck run out when they were killed by cops.
“They need money for December celebration but unfortunately did not return and now they are gone.
Their friends who were left behind are distress and can’t believe that their friend died a painful death,” anonymous concluded.