Mphendulo Absina Hassane (33), who was wanted for a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery, was arrested on Saturday.

Hassane was arrested during a multidisciplinary operation comprising the Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the National Intervention Unit, and the Nelspruit Crime Intelligence Unit.

According to provincial Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the arrest followed after the suspect was linked through fingerprints to a Malalane CIT heist that took place on August 11 on the R570 Malelane road to Schoemansdal.

During the robbery, two getaway vehicles were used. They were later recovered at a safe house in Buffelspruit.

“The Local Criminal Record Centre Nelspruit attended the scene and retrieved fingerprints from the Ford Ranger, which were later linked to Hassane,” says Sekgotodi.

A warrant of arrest was authorised and he was tracked for months without success. His image was circulated on media platforms numerous times.

“On Saturday at about 07:00 information was received by the team on his whereabouts in KaNyamazane. The dedicated team traced him to his hiding place and the warrant of arrest was executed,” says Sekgotodi.

This brings the number of accused persons in the Malelane CIT case to nine, she adds.

The suspect appeared in the Malelane Magistrate’s Court on Monday and was remanded in custody.

The case was postponed to November 22 for bail application.