News24 reports that eight suspected zama zamas (illegal miners) have been arrested in connection with a shootout with Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers who were responding to a report about armed men in Germiston.
According to JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla, the incident occurred at the intersection of Main Reef Road and Shamrock Street. "As the officers arrived at the given location, they saw two groups of males shooting at each other. When the suspects noticed the officers they started shooting at them and the officers returned fire. Amid the shootout, the officers saw a suspect fall to the ground, and backup was called," said Fihla. When the backup arrived, the officers entered an open veld area, where they found a wounded male with a rifle next to him. Seven more people were apprehended. The injured man was to hospital for treatment under police guard. The rest of the men were detained at the Primrose police station and charged with attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and illegal mining. Some of the men are believed to be connected to the robbery of motorists by armed individuals on the Crown interchange at the M1 in Johannesburg.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24
- Read too, Police arrest illegal miners 'linked' to M1 robberies, at SowetanLive
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