TWO POLICE Officers and one retired soldier were involved in the ‘Wild West’ shootout that made headlines in Rosettenville, south of Jozi.
This was confirmed by IPID, who also indicated that a SAPS member succumbed to injuries sustained during the gruesome incident and some are still hospitalised.
The fingered Police Officers and criminals are still on the run.
The official opposition party EFF applauded the authorities for their response to the situation.
“The EFF has taken note of the bloody exchange of shooting between members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and a gang of criminals in Rosettenville, Gauteng. The criminals were preparing to execute a cash-in-transit heist. The EFF congratulates the SAPS for their bravery in responding authoritatively to this criminal syndicate.”
“It is precisely this type of determined response that the SAPS must continue with, so as to send a firm warning to all criminals in South Africa that we have declared a war on crime. The spiralling levels of crime in South Africa demands a firm and direct response.”
It also called for authorities to ensure its members undergo rigorous vetting processes in reaction to the news that three officials were fingered in the incident.
“It is reported that two SAPS officials and one former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member were part of the criminal syndicate. We call on the SAPS and SANDF to engage in a process of continuous vetting of its members to smoke out all its officials who are involved in criminal activities.”
“We wish the police officers who were injured a speedy recovery and send our appreciation to them and their families for their selfless service in defending our country against criminals.
Our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the police officer who lost his life in the line of duty. May the bravery and authority of the SAPS continue in our war against crime,” says EFF in a media statement.
Ten would be CIT robbers were arrested as investigations for those on the run are still on-going.
Image (Bullet-riddled BMW was one of the high-end stolen vehicles found at the house in Rossetenville during bloody shoot-out with cops).
