Seven suspected armed robbers’ lives came to a violent and abrupt end last Friday morning when they were mercilessly gunned down by members of the South African Police Services, following a botched cash-in-transit robbery.

From the police’s side the message was clear: We have had enough!

On the deserted stretch of road, hundreds of spent cartridges bore silent witness to the bloody confrontation, and among the carnage were the bodies of the seven would-be robbers who decided to take on the police. They didn’t even get close to the money.

The shootout followed a tip-off that a major cash-in-transit heist for the region was on the cards. Police responded, riding shotgun in an unmarked police vehicle for a Group 4 cash-in-transit security van. Shortly after turning off the N1 on the Mailaskop Road to Vleifontein, three vehicles, a BMW, a Volvo and a Nissan Tiida, with four occupants each, sped towards the security van. Police knew they were right on the money, positively linking the BMW to the information they had.

The suspected robbers realized their game was up when they spotted police vehicles in the distance and made a U-turn, trying to elude capture by speeding back to the N1. As the unmarked police vehicle approached, the robbers opened fire, bringing the police vehicle to a standstill. The 12 suspected robbers made another U-turn, again heading back in the direction of Vleifontein.

But the police were ready …

A massive gunfight erupted, causing the Nissan Tiida to overturn. The Volvo and BMW sped on, leaving their buddies behind. About a kilometre further, however, the luck of the occupants of the BMW also ran out. All four were shot dead after police managed to bring them to a standstill by crashing into them. The occupants of the Volvo, unfortunately, managed to escape amidst the chaos.

Meanwhile, back at the crash site of the Nissan Tiida, three of the four occupants were also shot dead. The remaining one lay seriously injured.

“Crime does not pay,” remarked one of the policemen, referring to the injured suspect as he lay gasping for air. His words could not be truer. This suspect was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Two policemen were wounded in the gunfight, one in the left arm and one in the buttocks. Both were taken to the Zoutpansberg Private Hospital. After being stabilised, they were transferred to the MediClinic in Polokwane.

Police recovered three R5 rifles, an AK 47 rifle and a 9mm pistol from the scene. Inside the Nissan and BMW, they also found angle grinders and gas canisters. All seven of the suspects were wearing woolen gloves and balaclavas. The security van and its occupants escaped unharmed, with the suspected robbers not even managing to get off one shot at them.

At the time of going to press, police had yet to release the names of the seven suspected robbers, due to their on-going investigation.

Provincial police spokesperson Col Frans Mojapelo confirmed on Monday that the surviving suspect was still in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of a Polokwane hospital. He is heavily guarded.

“We cannot reveal where he is kept, because of the other four suspects who are still on the loose. The suspect will be questioned as soon as he awakens,” Mojapelo said.

As for the vehicles used in the botched robbery and the origin of the weapons recovered at the scene, Mojapelo said that the police’s Organised Crime Unit was still investigating the matter.