A multidisciplinary team of law-enforcement officials shot and killed three blue-light gang suspects who were allegedly terrorising drivers on the N3 highway.
The suspected criminals were mowed down on Sunday.
The police claim that they received information about the gang after they were accused of committing robberies on the N3 between Villiers and Heidelberg while driving a white Toyota Hilux.
“A multidisciplinary team was mobilised and traced the suspects to [the] N3 highway, Grootvlei in Mpumalanga. The vehicle was spotted with blue lights on,” said the police in Gauteng in a statement on Monday.
“The suspects saw the police and sped away, resulting in a high-speed chase towards Zonkizizwe in Ekurhuleni.
“The suspects started shooting at the team, and the team retaliated.”
Firearms and ammunition seized
Three suspects were fatally shot, while one gang member managed to flee the scene on foot.
The police seized two unlicensed firearms and ammunition, blue lights, and the vehicle the suspects were in.
The multidisciplinary team included SAPS national head office counter-intelligence, Secunda crime intelligence, Gauteng tactical response team, Gauteng anti-gang unit, DPC tracking team, Johannesburg K9, CAP specialised operations, Tracker Connect, ICB insurance crime bureau, MZ Werke Security, and Telesure insurance investigation.
“The crime management team combed the crime scene for more evidence while the vehicle was taken to the vehicle crime investigation unit for further analysis,” said the police.
Tax fraud case in court
Meanwhile, last week, the legal proceedings connected to tax fraud involving businessman Phineas Manthata, his company, and his two co-accused were rescheduled for May 6.
Manthata owns Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, which is cited in the lawsuit.
This comes after their appearance in the Palm Ridge magistrate’s court last Tuesday, where they were each granted R10 000 bail.
The allegations of tax fraud emanated from an investigation by the SA Revenue Service (SARS).
Taxman counts the losses
In 2017, SARS lost R8 598 363 as a result of tax fraud. During the 2018 and 2019 tax periods, the taxman recorded a total loss of R19 312 870.
The other two accused are Daniel Rothman, a certified tax practitioner, who serves Manthata’s business, and Judy Rose, an employee who worked for Manthata as a tax practitioner.
