Eight men were caught by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers after a shootout in Primrose, Germiston. During the exchange of gunfire at Main Reef Road and Shamrock Street, one of the suspects got seriously hurt.
The police were responding to reports of armed people robbing drivers at Crown interchange on the M1 in Johannesburg yesterday morning. They were also trying to stop illegal mining. Acting on a tip about armed illegal miners at Main Reef Road and Shamrock Street, officers went to investigate.
When they got there, they saw two groups of men shooting at each other. When the suspects saw the police, they started shooting at them, and the police shot back. During the shootout, one suspect fell to the ground, and the police called for backup.
Backup from SAPS Primrose, the Flying Squad, and the Airwing came, and together they went into the open area where they found a man wounded on the ground with a rifle beside him. They also arrested seven more suspects.
Gauteng EMS helped the injured suspect, who was then taken to Germiston Hospital with police guarding him.
All the arrested men, who are from South Africa and Lesotho, were taken to Primrose SAPS and charged with attempted murder, having illegal guns, and illegal mining.
The Acting Chief of Police, Angie Mokasi, praised the officers for their bravery in dealing with illegal mining and keeping residents safe.
