5 Suspects Linked to KZN Cash Heists Shot Dead in Gauteng Shootout at Crown Mines

Crown Mines, Johannesburg — In a dramatic turn of events, five armed robbery suspects were shot dead in a fierce gun battle with police at Crown Mines on the evening of Thursday, 24 July 2025. The suspects, believed to be behind a string of violent cash-in-transit (CIT) heists across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, met their fate after opening fire on law enforcement officials during a high-speed chase.

The Crown Mines operation was the culmination of weeks of coordinated intelligence and surveillance work between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng police units, backed by National Counter-Intelligence and private security partners.

According to police reports, officers were acting on precise intelligence regarding a group of suspects planning another cash van robbery in Johannesburg. Their vehicle, previously linked to other violent crimes, was identified near the M1/M2 highway split. Upon noticing the surveillance, the suspects attempted to flee, initiating a dangerous chase through city roads.

During the pursuit, the suspects opened fire on police officers, prompting law enforcement to return fire. The high-speed chase ended when the suspects’ vehicle crashed into a palisade fence near Crown Mines. All five occupants were fatally shot during the confrontation.

A preliminary search of the vehicle revealed an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, and explosives — typical tools used in the gang’s previous attacks. Police say the recovered vehicle at Crown Mines was the same one used in a cash-in-transit heist and the murder of a security guard in Kingsley, KwaZulu-Natal, on 14 July.

A Deadly Crime Spree Across Provinces

The suspects, all originally from Gauteng, had been targeting cash-in-transit vehicles across KZN before returning to Johannesburg to lay low. They are believed to be connected to multiple incidents, including:

• 10 May 2025: Around 8:45 AM, the gang ambushed a G4S cash van along Mandeni Main Road in KwaZulu-Natal. A security guard was fatally shot, and an undisclosed amount of money was stolen.
• 17 May 2025: Police tracked several suspects to Boksburg, where a deadly encounter occurred. Two gang members were killed after engaging police officers in a shootout.
• Mid-July 2025: A G4S vehicle was bombed in Newcastle during a night attack. Security guards were stripped of their firearms, and the gang fled in a BMW and an Audi.

Thursday night’s shootout was part of a larger, ongoing investigation into this syndicate, which has left a trail of violence across multiple provinces.

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A Win for Cross-Provincial Collaboration

One of the standout elements of this Crown Mines operation was the high level of coordination between KZN and Gauteng authorities. The Gauteng Traffic Police helicopter team played a vital role by providing aerial surveillance, helping ground forces to intercept and engage the suspects effectively.

National Counter-Intelligence also contributed key insights that helped piece together the suspects’ movement patterns across provinces, while private security firms offered technical support and resources.

Police spokesperson Colonel Mavuso praised the “exceptional collaboration between crime intelligence, ground forces, and aerial support,” emphasizing that the operation was a “decisive strike against a highly organized and dangerous criminal network.”

Community Safety and Ongoing Investigations

Law enforcement has not ruled out further arrests. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the syndicate’s activities and whether more members are at large. Authorities believe the group was planning further robberies, and the explosives found in the vehicle may have been intended for future attacks.

With tensions high in both provinces due to a recent spike in CIT robberies, communities have welcomed the crackdown. However, police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

“We are not celebrating the loss of life, but we are relieved that dangerous individuals who had no hesitation in killing for money are no longer a threat,” said one senior police source involved in the investigation.

The takedown sends a clear message: interprovincial crime syndicates will not be allowed to operate with impunity. As authorities continue to dismantle criminal networks, South Africans are reminded that public cooperation remains a critical part of defeating violent crime.