Two suspects die after 13-strong armed gang robs Limpopo filling station

Early-morning violence at a Limpopo filling station ended with two suspected robbers dead after a vehicle crash and police recovering multiple firearms and ammunition linked to the attack.

What happened at the filling station

Police said 13 armed men entered a filling station at Moteti Complex in Dennilton at about 2:30am. The men, armed with handguns and rifles, accosted security guards and the cashier before using an explosive device to breach a drop safe and stealing an undisclosed amount of cash.

After the theft the suspects fled on foot and police recovered several pistol and rifle cartridges at the scene. The Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit took over the crime scene and began investigating.

Crash and recovery of weapons

At about 5:10am, officers received information about an overturned white bakkie with Mpumalanga registration along the R573 between Slaagboom and Siyabuswa. On arrival police found two male occupants. The driver was certified dead at the scene; the passenger suffered serious head injuries, was taken to a local hospital and later died while receiving medical treatment, police said.

While processing the crash scene, police recovered firearms and ammunition that were later linked to the Dennilton filling station robbery. Recovered items included:

• one R5 rifle and two R5 magazines
• 56 rounds of R5 ammunition
• two 9mm pistols, one empty 9mm magazine and one 9mm round

Charges and ongoing investigation

Cases of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and culpable homicide were registered at Marble Hall police station. Police said the two deceased men were later identified and positively linked to the filling station robbery.

Limpopo police said investigations continue as officers work to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the armed group.

Police statements

“The suspects accosted the security guards and cashier before proceeding to the cash office, where they allegedly used an explosive device to breach the drop safe,”

said Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

“The recovery of these firearms and the subsequent linkage of the deceased suspects to the business robbery is a significant breakthrough. However, our work is far from over. We will continue to follow every available lead until the remaining suspects are identified and apprehended,”

said Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Jan Scheepers. He added:

“Those who use firearms and explosives to terrorise our communities must know that they cannot evade the long arm of the law.”