Illegal mining suspects arrested by JMPD Tactical Response Unit in Primrose

Eight male suspects were arrested with one of them sustaining serious injuries following an exchange of gunfire with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers from the Tactical Response Unit at Main Reef Road and Shamrock Street, Primrose, Germiston.

Responding to the alleged robbery of motorists by armed individuals on the Crown interchange at the M1 in Johannesburg this morning and with the pursuit of combating the scourge of illegal mining activities, officers followed up on a complaint of armed illegal miners 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.

When the backup from SAPS Primrose, the Flying Squad and the Airwing arrived, the officers entered the open veld area where they found one male lying on the ground with a wound and a rifle next to him. A further seven suspects were apprehended by the officers.

Gauteng EMS attended to the injured suspect, who was taken to Germiston Hospital for further treatment under police guard.

All the arrested suspects consisting of South African and Lesotho nationals were detained at Primrose SAPS and charged with attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and illegal mining.

The JMPD Acting Chief of Police Angie Mokasi has commended the valiant efforts shown by the officers in tackling this scourge of illegal mining and ensuring the safety of residents.