Bloemfontein - Police were still at the scene of a foiled cash-in-transit heist during which five robbers were shot dead, said Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko on Friday.
A group of robbers in various vehicles rammed into a Protea Coin van at a busy intersection just outside Virginia at lunchtime.
The roads at the intersection lead to Virginia, Welkom and Hennenman or Bultfontein.
Early indications were that five robbers were shot during the shoot-out with police.
Mamaloko said eight other robbers were arrested.
Police were looking for more robbers who managed to escape.
Mamaloko said police also recovered vehicles used in the heist attempt.