Polokwane – In what some might say was divine intervention, a pair of suspected armed robbers died after they crashed their getaway bakkie hours after a violent business robbery at a filling station in Limpopo.
Recounting the incident, police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said: “Two suspected armed robbers died in a fatal motor vehicle crash in the Marble Hall policing area on Tuesday morning, 8 September 2026, hours after a violent business robbery at a filling station in Dennilton, Sekhukhune District”.
Colonel Ledwaba added: “Firearms and ammunition recovered from the crashed vehicle have been positively linked to the two deceased suspects and the robbery”.
Narrating events leading to the armed robbery, the police spokesperson said that at about 02:30, some 13 armed robbers stormed a filling station at Moteti Complex, Dennilton.
“The suspects accosted the security guards and cashier before proceeding to the cash office, where they allegedly used an explosive device to breach the drop safe,” said Colonel Ledwaba.
“They subsequently fled the premises on foot while firing several shots.
“An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen from the safe.”
Police from the province’s Organised Crime Investigation Unit are investigating.
They found several pistol and rifle cartridges at the scene.
At around 05:10, police received information that a white Nissan Navara with Mpumalanga registration had overturned along the R573 road between Slaagboom and Siyabuswa, while heading toward Marble Hall.
“Upon arrival, police found two male occupants at the scene,” the police spokesperson said.
“The driver was certified dead at the scene, while the passenger had sustained serious head injuries.
“He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment.”
Colonel Ledwaba said that while processing the accident scene, police recovered the following firearms and ammunition:
- One R5 rifle
- Two R5 magazines
- 56 R5 rounds of ammunition
- Two 9mm pistols
- One 9mm empty magazine
- One 9mm round of ammunition
The police spokesperson said cases of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and culpable homicide were registered at Marble Hall Police Station.
“The two deceased suspects were subsequently identified as males aged 34 and 35 years respectively,” said Colonel Ledwaba.
“Preliminary investigations have positively linked both deceased suspects to the filling station business robbery in Dennilton.
“The investigation is continuing, with police working hard to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects who were part of the armed group.”
Commenting on the matter, Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers said: “The recovery of these firearms and the subsequent linkage of the deceased suspects to the business robbery is a significant breakthrough.
“However, our work is far from over.
“We will continue to follow every available lead until the remaining suspects are identified and apprehended.
“Those who use firearms and explosives to terrorise our communities must know that they cannot evade the long arm of the law.”
