Six suspects killed in a shootout with police in Germiston

Six suspects have been killed in a shootout with the police in Germiston, east of Johannesburg.

Police received a tip-off regarding a robbery that was going to take place in the Germiston CBD area.

One suspect is under police guard in the hospital after sustaining serious gunshot injuries.

A shootout ensued after police attempted to stop a suspected vehicle. This was after the occupants started shooting at the police, who returned fire in self-defense.

The vehicle was reportedly stolen in Brooklyn, Pretoria, earlier this year.

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Police discovered an AK-47 rifle, four handguns, and a cash trolley at the scene.

Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni says the suspects started shooting at the police, who then retaliated. “When our law enforcement agency was reacting, then they started shooting; they retaliated, of which the results thwarted six, or they fatally wounded six of the suspects, and one of them is wounded.”

Mthombeni has warned criminals that they will not get away with crime. “We are just giving a strong warning that these criminals must stop whatever they are doing or planning. As I have indicated in the media space, if they don’t, they will feel like they are sitting on top of the fire.”

Residents in the area are calling for increased police visibility. They hope that the latest turn of events will prompt authorities to take more effective measures to ensure public safety and combat criminal activities in Germiston.

“The shooting was very intense, and it sounded like fireworks going out right next to me. I won’t say I am scared but I have lived here for three years. So I am used to the crime in this area, which hopefully will open the eyes of the station here in Germiston to actually do a bit more about the crime that is going on here.”

On Friday, two suspects were killed in a shootout with police in Brackendowns, south of Johannesburg.

This is after police returned fire, fatally wounding the two suspects in the vehicle, which was fitted with false registration plates.