Eight alleged gangsters held after shootout

EIGHT potentially dangerous men who are alleged to be part of two gangs terrorising Ekurhuleni communities have been arrested.

Two rival groups from Reiger Park and Geluksdal allegedly had a shootout on Sunday.

The sound of gunshots ringing out outside a house in Geluksdal, near Tsakane, had alarmed residents, who ran for cover in fear.

Ekurhuleni metro police department (EMPD) spokesman Clifford Shongwe said officers were called to the scene around 11am.

He said a large contingent of EMPD and SAPS officers arrived and arrested a group of eight men.

“We are not sure which of them belong to which gang, but an investigation is under way,” he said.

A firearm was found at the scene and was seized by the police.

Shongwe could not say if there were any fatalities or injuries.

“Many of them fled the scene when we arrived and are still at large but we are sure that people where harmed during the shootout.”

Shongwe said the gang violence was believed to be linked to a robbery.

“The one gang apparently robbed another gang and they retaliated,” he said.

Shongwe said more arrests were imminent and that police were on the right track to crack down on criminal and gang activities in the troubled areas.

Reiger Park, a suburb near Boksburg, has become notorious for a spate of deadly violence recently.

Earlier this month, taxi boss Lance Marc Martin was shot dead while sitting in his taxi outside the Ramaphosa taxi rank. The motive is not known.