Zuko Komisa
- Approximately eight armed suspects robbed a jewellery shop in Highveld Mall, Witbank.
- Police and private security intercepted the getaway, resulting in three suspects being shot dead.
- Officers seized four firearms, a stolen vehicle with cloned plates, and a portion of the stolen loot.
At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, a gang of roughly eight armed men stormed a jewellery store within Highveld Mall.
The assailants held staff and security guards at gunpoint before fleeing with an undisclosed quantity of jewellery.
Alerted to the robbery in progress, SAPS and private security teams responded rapidly, intercepting the suspects as they exited the mall in several getaway vehicles.
A shootout ensued, leaving three suspects fatally wounded, while the remaining accomplices managed to escape the scene.
On-site, investigators recovered a Toyota RAV4 fitted with false number plates, alongside three pistols and a rifle. A portion of the stolen jewellery was found abandoned inside the vehicle.
The seized firearms will now undergo ballistic testing to determine if they are linked to other criminal activities.
While police have launched a business robbery investigation, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will conduct a standard inquiry into the fatal shooting of the suspects.
A manhunt is currently underway for those still at large. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stop or use the MySAPS app, noting that all tips will remain anonymous.
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