Some of the weapons discovered on the scene.
Town Two residents were left traumatised after eight people were gunned down in an exchange of fire with police on Monday 5 August, which also saw five arrested.
According to police reports the gang was in a house allegedly planning a cash-in-transit robbery when the incident occurred.
A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal described the incident as “terrible” and that it left the community deeply affected.
“The incident lasted for about 45 minutes to an hour,” the leader said.
“It was like a movie. The criminals were running on top of the roofs trying to escape, leaving some of them broken in the process. All the deceased were not from the area.”
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa said a multidisciplinary team, comprising Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) members, intelligence operatives, Special Task Force members, security company officials, following up on vital information about a possible cash-in-transit robbery, pounced on would-be robbers in Town Two, Khayelitsha on Monday evening.
“As the team approached the suspects, the would-be robbers started firing shots at police who retaliated,” she said. “As a consequence eight suspects were shot dead and five arrested.
“On the scene the police confiscated the following seven AK 47 rifles, two R5 rifles, a R4 rifle, a Dashprod rifle, two 9 mm pistols, three Improvised Explosive Chargers and? numerous magazines filled with rounds of ammunition.”
Unathi Obose
www.news24.com
