Four Arrested After Dramatics Police Chase and Shooting in Athlone
CCN Reporting
Athlone:- One suspect was fatally shot and four others arrested following a high-speed police pursuit and shooting in Athlone on Monday, 13 April 2026.
According to reports, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Flying Squad spotted a grey Toyota Avanza without number plates in the area. The vehicle is believed to be linked to a business robbery in Lansdowne.
When officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver allegedly tried to ram the police vehicles before speeding off, sparking a chase. Police opened fire on the vehicle, which was eventually brought to a stop.
Five suspects were inside the Avanza. One was declared dead at the scene from gunshot wounds, while another was injured and rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital for treatment. The remaining three suspects were taken into custody.
IPID (Independent Police Investigative Directorate) has opened an inquest docket and is investigating the circumstances of the shooting. The identities of the suspects have not yet been released.
It is unclear at this stage whether the vehicle is the same grey Toyota Avanza that featured in video footage of an alleged robbery in Sherwood Park/Manenberg on Sunday, which circulated widely on local community platforms.
Police sources suggest the group may have been involved in a string of similar incidents in the area. This incident comes amid ongoing concerns about business robberies and vehicle-related crime in parts of Cape Town.
CCN will continue to monitor developments as more information becomes available from SAPS and IPID.
