EMALAHLENI – A dramatic shootout between police and armed suspects in eMalahleni on Sunday, March 16, 2025, led to the arrest of two men, aged 34 and 37. According to a report from the Mpumalanga Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit, officers received intelligence regarding a vehicle carrying armed suspects. Acting on this information, law enforcement officers spotted a silver-grey Toyota Romain with Mpumalanga registration plates at the Van Dykdrift Bridge in eMalahleni.
When police attempted to intercept the vehicle, the suspects allegedly opened fire. Officers returned fire, injuring one suspect before successfully apprehending both men. The police recovered a pistol with ammunition, which will undergo ballistic testing to determine if it was used in other crimes.
Authorities believe the arrested individuals may be linked to several violent incidents, including a double murder at a tavern in Belfast that occurred in February 2025, during which a vehicle was stolen, as well as the fatal shooting of a man in Breyten on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
The injured suspect is currently receiving medical treatment under police guard, while the second suspect appeared in the eMalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 17 March 2025. The case has been postponed to Monday, March 24,2025, with both suspects remaining in custody.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended officers for their swift response and emphasised the police force’s commitment to tackling serious crime in the province.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be added as more details emerge.
