Recovery News
Gun battle close to kruger national park leaves one suspect dead
11 August 2009
One member of a suspected hijacking syndicate in Mpumalanga was killed last night and other suspect potentially injured when SAPS and Matrix Vehicle Tracking followed a hijacked bakkie that was on the way to cross the border via the Kruger Park.
The Isuzu KB was stolen in Msogwaba, Mpumalanga after two armed men entered a house in the area just before midnight last night, loading all the household belongings into the vehicle and driving off.
Matrix Vehicle Tracking’s recovery team gave chase, following the vehicle towards Mtsulu via back roads. It was suspected the vehicle would head into the Kruger Park to cross the border. Nelspruit SAPS were also called in to assist. Matrix Vehicle Tracking’s communication officer Hannelie Snow confirmed that the recovery team followed the vehicle over difficult dirt terrain.
The Matrix Vehicle Tracking recovery team, and the SAPS back-up, then proceeded on foot for about 500 m to silently approach the vehicle which was now parked in the bush.
The suspects started shooting at the recovery team and one SAPS member was shot in the lower leg, bleeding badly.
The SAPS managed to shoot one of the suspects dead and it is suspected that the other was wounded although he managed to get away.
The wounded SAPS member was stabilised and transported to an area with ambulance access.
The SAPS dog unit were also brought into the area to continue the search as it is was suspected that these two suspects were part of a hijacking syndicate. They carried specialised tools that were modified and bent for a specific use as well as surgical gloves.
Nelspruit SAPS took control of the scene and the investigation
