Three Suspected Cash-in-Transit Robbers Shot Dead in N12 Shootout

Three suspected cash-in-transit (CIT) robbers have been shot and killed following a fierce exchange of gunfire with police along the N12 near the Kliprivier off-ramp in Johannesburg on Friday, in an operation that resulted in the recovery of firearms at the scene.

The deadly confrontation unfolded as police officers engaged the suspects in a gun battle on the busy route. The shooting left all three suspected robbers dead, while authorities moved to secure the scene and begin investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, firearms were recovered at the scene following the shootout. The recovery is expected to form part of the investigation as detectives work to establish whether the weapons were linked to the suspected cash-in-transit robbery or other criminal activities.

Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni is expected to address the media at the crime scene, where further details about the operation and the events leading to the fatal confrontation may be provided.

The incident highlights the continuing threat posed by organised criminal groups involved in cash-in-transit robberies, which frequently expose security personnel, police officers and members of the public to heavily armed violence. Such crimes often involve coordinated attacks on vehicles transporting money, with suspects using firearms to overpower security officers and escape with cash.

The N12 is an important transport corridor in Gauteng, carrying substantial volumes of traffic between Johannesburg and other parts of the province. A shootout in the area can create serious safety concerns for motorists, particularly when gunfire erupts near busy roads and off-ramps.

Police are expected to investigate the sequence of events that led to the confrontation, including how officers encountered the suspects and whether the group was allegedly preparing to carry out a robbery or was linked to an incident already under investigation.

The identities of the deceased suspects had not been confirmed in the information available, and further details regarding possible accomplices, the firearms recovered and any property seized were still awaited.

Investigators may also examine forensic evidence from the scene and assess whether the recovered weapons can be linked to other reported crimes. The findings could help authorities determine the suspects’ alleged activities and establish whether the incident forms part of a wider criminal network.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting will remain subject to investigation, with authorities expected to provide additional information as it becomes available.

Mthombeni’s planned media address is expected to shed further light on the police operation, the recovered firearms and the broader investigation into the fatal N12 confrontation.

The shooting represents another deadly encounter in Gauteng’s ongoing battle against violent, organised crime.

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