By Sbongile Nonyana
- Two suspects were arrested after a deadly police shootout in Witbank on 16 March.
- Cops believe they’re behind a tavern shooting and other recent murders.
Two murder suspects were arrested and one wounded in a dramatic shootout with police in Witbank on Sunday, 16 March.
The suspects, aged 34 and 37, were cornered after a high-speed chase that ended in a deadly gun battle near the Van Dykdrift bridge.
Police were tipped off about a vehicle carrying armed men, and officers from the Mpumalanga Murder and Robbery Unit quickly tracked down a silver-grey Toyota Romain with Mpumalanga number plates.
“As the police tried to stop the car, the suspects opened fire. Officers returned fire and one suspect was shot and wounded,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.
The wounded suspect was taken to hospital under police guard. The other two were arrested at the scene, but one managed to escape.
Mdhluli said police recovered a pistol and ammunition. The firearm will be tested to see if it was used in other crimes.
Investigators believe the men are linked to several deadly crimes, including a tavern shooting in Belfast last month that left two people dead and a car stolen.
They’re also believed to have been involved in another fatal shooting in Breyten just a day before Sunday’s shootout.
The arrested suspect appeared in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 17 March. The case was postponed to Monday, 24 March.
Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi praised officers for their quick action. “We’ll stay on high alert to fight serious crimes,” he said.
Pictured above: The scene of the Witbank shootout.
Image source: SAPS
