The busy intersection at the Excel Garage at Malamulele resembled a war zone Friday morning (22 July), when police tried to stop a vehicle which they suspected was to be used to commit a crime.

It was cops versus robbers fighting for supremacy, but in the end the police emerged victorious.

Thohoyandou police, in a joint operation with the Malamulele and Giyani police and other units of the SAPS, successfully foiled what could have been a major heist, which could have led to a bloodbath.

The drama started at 07:00 when a vehicle with four occupants failed to stop when ordered to do so by the police at the busy intersection. Realizing that they would not get away through the heavy morning traffic, the occupants got out of the car and tried to run, while at the same time firing at the police. The suspects did not get far as the police retaliated and stopped them in their tracks.

Within minutes of the incident, the scene was swarming with onlookers from as far as Thohoyandou, Malamulele and Giyani, who wanted to have a glimpse of the arrested suspects. The suspects lay sprawled and bloodied while police took their details, with emergency personnel giving first aid to the injured robbers. It took more than three hours for police to finish combing the scene for evidence.

The information available indicates that the group was on its way to Giyani and had planned to rob a hardware business there.

According to Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, the police, who were acting on a tip-off from their informers, were keeping surveillance on the group, which included a very dangerous, wanted criminal. Mulalo Mabaya has been on the run since escaping from a police vehicle in February 2011. He has been linked to many crimes. He is believed to have assembled a robbery syndicate.

Mulaudzi said the police tried to stop the criminals at the intersection. Realizing that it was police, the suspects did not surrender but started firing at the police, who retaliated. Apparently there was exchange of gunfire between the police and the suspected criminals.

“The robbers offered a lot of resistance, but we eventually managed to subdue them and arrested all four of the occupants of the car. We managed to recover two firearms from the suspects. We also apprehended the occupants of two other vehicles that were found at the neighbouring Xithlelani village,” he said. The occupants of the other vehicle were later released after questioning as they could not be linked to the first group or any crime.

After the fight subsided, three suspected robbers lay seriously injured and the fourth was reported dead on arrival at the Malamulele Hospital. The dead fugitive has been identified as Sipho Shezi Sithole (19) from Umlazi Township in Durban.

Mabaya (33), who is believed to be the kingpin of the group, started his criminal career many years ago. Before his escape in February 2011, Mabaya was facing charges of house breaking, common robbery, rape, attempted murder, theft of a motor vehicle, pointing of a firearm, attempted robbery, kidnapping and possession of an unlawful firearm.

Mulaudzi said the arrest of the suspects was a relief to the police as Mabaya was one of the top ten wanted criminals in the province. “We have proved that criminals do not have anywhere to hide in this country. We are not sitting ducks, but will fight back. This will also serve as a statement that those who are still thinking of committing crime should think twice. With our communities on our side, we shall win this war,” he said.

He thanked all officers who worked tirelessly to bring the suspects to book.

Meanwhile, the three suspects, Aluwani Singo (29), Mulalo Mabaya (33) and Sfiso Cele (28), have all been discharged from hospital where they were admitted after the shooting.

Mulaudzi said the suspects appeared at the Malamulele magistrate on Monday, charged with the pointing of a firearm at police, possession of illegal firearms, attempted murder and attempted robbery. The case was postponed to September 1. “The suspects have been remanded in custody at one of the high-security prisons in Limpopo," he added.