Cape Town – Two men masquerading as South African Police Service officers were shot dead following a high-speed pursuit and shootout with police near Parys in the Free State on Sunday, police confirmed.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, law enforcement acted on intelligence linking a Volkswagen Golf 7 fitted with blue lights to a string of so-called “blue light robberies” between Gauteng and the Free State.
Nevhuhulwi said officers from various units, including the Tactical Response Team and Traffic Airwing, tracked the vehicle along the R59. When police attempted to stop the car, “the driver sped off,” triggering a **high-speed chase and exchange of gunfire.”
#sapsGP Two suspected blue light robbers were shot and killed yesterday, 14/12 following a shootout with the police in Parys, Free State. Two unlicensed firearms with ammunition, SAPS uniform with insignia, blue lights, sirens and false registration numbers seized.
Preliminary… pic.twitter.com/i1c6mBBIPa
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 15, 2025
The pursuit ended when the suspects’ car lost control and crashed into a fence in the Parys area. Inside, police found the two men dressed in police uniforms, both of whom were fatally wounded.
Officers recovered unlicensed firearms with ammunition, SAPS uniforms bearing insignia, blue lights, sirens, and fake registration number plates from the vehicle.
“Preliminary investigations suggest the suspects were involved in several blue light robberies … hijack motorists, and kidnap them for several hours while forcing them to withdraw money from their bank accounts,” Nevhuhulwi explained.
Nevhuhulwi emphasized that police will escalate efforts to combat blue-light robberies and other violent crime, urging the public not to stop for suspicious vehicles displaying blue lights but rather to proceed to the nearest police station or petrol station. Crime can be reported anonymously to the Crime Stop line on 08600 10111.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
