Some of the task team's successes include the arrest of 10 suspected robbers who were involved in a deadly shoot-out with police in Rosettenville on Monday.

Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says that a group of at least 25 suspects were allegedly on their way to commit a CIT robbery when they were intercepted by the National CIT Task Team in Moffat View, in the South of Johannesburg.

"During the ordeal, eight suspects were shot and killed, ten suspects were arrested, two of which are under police guard in hospital. The team also seized 10 high-performance vehicles at an identified address, as well as six AK47 machine guns, three rifles as well as explosives. One police officer from the Airborne Law Enforcement unit and two officers from the Moffatview Police Station were shot and injured during the attack. They are recovering in hospital."

In February 2020, the Hawks established a task team to focus on heists.

"The team which is led by a female commander has been responsible for the arrest of 202 suspects that have been linked to CIT related crimes, 13 of these suspects are among the country's top 13 most wanted criminals, so far 178 high-performance vehicles hijacked have been recovered, as well as 104 firearms which include 59 pistols, and 48 rifles were seized during arrests," says Mathe.

UPDATE: The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has confirmed that one of the four police officers wounded during the Rosettenville shooting on Monday has died in hospital. Three other officers are still in the hospital.

Eight suspects were shot dead during an exchange of fire with police in the south of Johannesburg. One was a former SANDF member.

Jacaranda News