Cape Town – Four suspected extortionists were shot and killed during a confrontation with police in Site C, Khayelitsha, on Thursday.
According to police spokesperson Novela Potelwa, members of the Provincial Combat Team were acting on intelligence regarding suspects allegedly involved in the extortion of local businesses.
Officers identified a vehicle matching the description of the suspects on Japhta K Masemola Road and attempted to pull it over. Potelwa said the situation escalated when the occupants of the vehicle allegedly pointed firearms at police.
“The suspects pointed the police with the firearms and as a consequence four yet to be identified men were shot and killed,” she said.
All four suspects sustained fatal injuries during the exchange. Police recovered three firearms believed to have been in the suspects’ possession at the scene.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has opened an investigation into the incident, in line with standard procedure following police-involved shootings.