Chaos broke out on Wednesday when a group of armed skelms opened fire on shoppers and residents during a robbery at Nyanga Junction resulting in the deaths of two people.
Dramatic scenes played out on Duinefontein Road in Manenberg as skelms and security guards exchanged fire after four men held up a cellphone shop.
Acting station commander, Colonel Sanela Zama, says shortly before 4pm, four armed men entered a cellphone shop where they robbed the customers and raided cash from the till.
“One of the people working in the store pressed a panic button and as they came out, they were met by security guards,” says Zama.
“One of the suspects turned and opened fire on the shop owner’s brother and missed.”
ARRESTED: Two suspects. Picture: Leon Knipe
He says there was a shootout between the security officers and the skelms who continued to fire, and one skelm was hit and died on the scene.
Zama says the dom skelms then ran over into Manenberg where they met their match as skollies moered them.
“They went over and kept shooting and they shot a 23-year-old man who is a member of the Clever Kidz gang and he died in the street,” says Zama.
“He was not part of the
robbery and the suspects shot him for no reason.”
The cop says angry residents chased after the two skelms and moered them.
“The community got hold of the two suspects and did some panelbeating on them and police found them lying in the street.
“During the assault, the gangsters also stole their guns and left them in the street.”
DEAD END JOB: One robber killed in shootout. Picture: Leon Knipe
He says the two injured skelms were taken to hospital where they are being treated under police guard.
“It total, two people died of which only one was a suspect in the robbery and the other was just walking in the street.
“Two suspects were arrested after they were beaten by residents and are being
treated in hospital.
“The fourth suspect who entered the store managed to escape. The suspects are from Samora Machel.”
Manenberg police have opened two murder cases, business robbery and an inquest docket.