The trio are still in police custody and will appear again at the Tzaneen Magistrate Court on Tuesday August 28 awaiting their bail outcome.
Vusi Puggens (31), Surprise Moraleng Theledi (26) and Shadrack Molaantwa Theledi (30) are charged with attempted cash-in-transit and attempted murder. They were arrested before they could execute the crime at the Sugar Loaf Complex at the junction of Claude Wheatley Street and Skirving Street on the morning of Thursday,August 9 at around 10:30.
Read: Cops foil CIT heist at Tzaneen service station
The three suspects are believed to be from the Mpumalanga Province and two are biological brothers. A multidisciplinary police team comprising of Crime Intelligence and a Tracking Team managed to prevent the possible crime from happening after receiving a tip-off about the suspects’ intentions. The teams were mobilised for a possible CIT robbery at a filling station and conducted an observation operation, according to a statement issued by the office of National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole. The teams began looking for suspicious persons and movements in the area around the Sugarloaf complex.
The police noticed a white VW Polo vehicle with a false number plate and four men in the complex who looked suspicious. As the police approached the Polo and the suspicious men, a cash vehicle came in and a car chase ensued, the statement said.
It is alleged that some of the suspects fled to a parked silver BMW. It is reported that a shot was fired from the BMW towards the police vehicle that was approaching. A number of shots were then exchanged between the suspects and the police, this according to eyewitnesses at the scene.
As the BMW tried to flee the area, it was involved in an accident and the Polo which followed was also stopped by the police.
Three suspects were immediately arrested at the scene and two others fled on foot.
One of the two was later arrested. Two of the four arrested were wounded and taken to hospital under guard. The eyewitness told the LETABA HERALD, “I saw one man in a white T-shirt laying face down on the ground. I saw blood so I think he was injured.”
The two cars were seized and they are believed to be registered in names of two of the suspects. One state vehicle was damaged by gunshots and no other injuries were reported. “We applaude the swift action of our members in blue.
We will not rest until we win the war on the scourge of cash in transit robberies. It is our responsibility to prevent, combat, investigate crime and create a safe and secure environment for South Africans,” said Police Minister Bheki Cele.
“The authority of the state will be felt and heard, we will continue with our pro-active approach in intercepting these robberies and squeeze the space for criminals,” Cele concluded.
