Rosettenville shootout accused found guilty as court details coordinated heist plot

After weeks of delays, the long-awaited judgment in the high-profile Rosettenville shootout case has been delivered, with the High Court finding that the accused acted as part of a coordinated and heavily armed criminal enterprise.

Judgment was handed down on Tuesday after proceedings were postponed last week due to the presiding judge falling ill.

The case stems from a foiled 2022 cash-in-transit heist in Johannesburg, where a group of suspects was intercepted by police while allegedly tracking a cash vehicle from Mondeor to Krugersdorp.

All ten accused appeared in the dock and requested that the media not photograph them.

The attempted heist escalated into a deadly shootout, leaving at least eight suspects dead and four police officers wounded after authorities moved in on the group.

In a judgment lasting more than an hour, Judge Shanaaz Mia found that the accused initiated the violence by opening fire on police and acted with a common purpose throughout.

“The evidence establishes beyond reasonable doubt that the accused were participants in a coordinated armed criminal enterprise and foresaw the legal consequences of their conduct.”

The court convicted all ten accused on multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances, as well as the unlawful possession of firearms and explosives.

Meanwhile, an eleventh accused – who had partially evaded the most serious charges – was acquitted on several counts but still found guilty of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The court heard that while DNA and gunshot residue evidence did not conclusively place the accused at the centre of the shooting, the broader body of evidence pointed to a coordinated operation.

Judge Mia also acknowledged irregularities in the handling of the crime scene.

“Five, irregularities in the crime scene management were identified. These are concerning. They do not, however, affect the core facts with regard to the armed resistance that occurred, the firearms discharge, and suspects who fled and continued shooting. These facts, as indicated, establish a coordinated armed group engaged in a continuous investigation criminal episode and considering the totality of the evidence.”

She further noted that police were met with immediate gunfire when a helicopter arrived at the scene, triggering a prolonged exchange.

The matter has been postponed to 25 May 2026 for sentencing proceedings.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe