Was kingpin of ‘Rolex gang’ killed in shoot-out with the police?

THE POLICE won’t confirm whether officers shot and killed the leader of the infamous Rolex gang on Thursday night.

Police officers were out on patrol in the Crowthorne area, in Midrand, along with a group of volunteers from the sector four Kyalami area when they came across two people in a white Ford Bantam bakkie who were acting suspiciously.

When the officers approached the vehicle, the occupants opened fire and sped off. The officers pursued the suspects’ vehicle to the corner of Jupiter and Mercury in Crowthorne where an exchange of fire took place between the police and the suspects.

One of the suspects was killed and the other escaped. It is believed Kelvin Ludidi – known as the kingpin of the Rolex gang that terrorised Joburg suburbs, often robbing people of Rolex watches – was the suspect who was shot and killed, while his accomplice fled.

Gauteng police spokeswoman Lieutenant-colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed that “a suspect in his 30s was shot and killed during a shootout with police in Midrand last night”.

Mogale said the police “confiscated the suspects’ vehicle and searched it. They found an AK47”.

Further investigations by the police have also revealed that the dead man was wanted in connection with several robberies in the Midrand and Sandton area.

He had been positively linked to five other cases in Mondeor, Bramley, and Sandton, in relation to possession of unlicensed firearms, armed robbery, possession of stolen property, and attempted murder.

“The deceased was also currently out on bail in Bramley for a case of house robbery, and was due to appear in court again at the end of the month. The deceased was found in possession of the AK47,” said Mogale.

However, Mogale said that the police could not reveal the identity of the deceased suspect.

“Only once we have notified the deceased’s family, then can we reveal to the media who he is.”

Constable Matome Tlamela of the Midrand CPF said the police had recovered, along with the two rifles, over R10 000 in cash, and balaclavas, from the vehicle.

Tlamela added that the other suspect had managed to run away the scene and that the police hadlaunched a hunt for him.

Ludidi was out on bail and was facing a host of charges including house robbery and attempted murder.