As the hunt continues for 17 robbers who held up five stores in Brakpan and murdered a motorist on Tuesday night, Eyewitness News understands the men relied on muti to carry out their attack.

Authorities believe a white minibus taxi which the robbers were travelling in was laced with muti.

They got away with an undisclosed amount of cash from six shops and robbed patrons of jewellery and cell phones.

The Community Safety Department's Johnny Smith chased the suspects as they fled to the N17 highway and called for back up.

"I went through the toll gate before them and I blocked the toll gate so they couldn't get through. That is when the suspects jumped out the taxi and ran into the veld. I shot three shots at them and arrested the driver of the Quantum."

The Traditional Healers Association's Phepsile Maseko warned rogue healers who give muti to people who carry out criminal activities.