Information gathered after a foiled cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Hendrina, has led police to man in Botleng, Delmas, who was arrested more than a month after the incident on suspicion that he was one of the suspects who managed to flee the scene.

Abel Nkosingphile Msimango (44) is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, and possession of firearms and explosives and appeared before the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, September 15.

His arrest on September 14 follows a series of events after a foiled CIT heist in Hendrina on August 4.

Police clamped down on a safe house in Hendrina after receiving information that a CIT robbery was about to take place. A shoot-out ensued resulting in the arrest of nine suspects while two others escaped.

Five of the suspects arrested were found in the vicinity of the house, two inside and three hiding in a nearby caravan, while four were caught after a high-speed chase with police, just outside Hendrina.

It is believed that Msimango was one of the two suspects who succeeded in escaping, hijacking several vehicles as they made their way towards Elukwatini.

Of the 10 men accused of being involved in the Hendrina foiled CIT heist, police have discovered that several have had previous run-ins with the law:

• Thabo Haward Hlope, has a pending CIT robbery charge for an incident that happened in Westernbug in May 2018 where a SBV armoured vehicle was atttacked.It is further alleged that Hlope had to appear in the Polokwane High Court on August 8, but he evaded court.
• Robert Lazarus Ndlovu also has a pending CIT case which happened in December 2014 at Ermelo. The case was postponed to October 3 for trial.
• Godfrey Mabuye allegedly involved himself in an attempted CIT robbery in Siyabuswa in July. It is alleged that Mabuye was found in possession of an AK-47 rifle on the day of the Hendrina incident. According to the police Mabuye was wearing the same clothes that he had on during the CIT heist in Siyabuswa, when he was arrested in Hendrina.

All ten suspects remain in custody until their next court appearance.