Khanyisile Viola Nyalunga (29), a Mbombela traffic officer who was arrested in connection with a botched cash-in-transit (CIT) heist on July 27 in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, was today released on R5 000 bail by the Mpumalanga High Court.

Provincial National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa says Nyalunga appealed against the White River Magistrate’s Court’s decision not to grant her bail.

“The court found there was substantial reason that she be granted bail. She was released under the condition that she does not contact the witnesses, attends all [of] her court appearances, and must stay in the country until her case is resolved,” Nyuswa explains.

On the day of the failed heist, at about 13:30, a Fidelity Security armoured vehicle (AV) was travelling from White River to Hazyview, escorted by a tactical support unit vehicle. At the White River/Hazyview junction, when the AV turned into Hazyview, it was rammed by a grey Mercedes-Benz sedan.

The suspects started shooting at the AV, wounding the security guards, who were transported to hospital for treatment. The suspects fled in three other sedans.

A team of investigators from the Nelspruit Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the National Intervention Unit, provincial detectives, and the Nelspruit Local Criminal Record Centre followed up on information received from witnesses.

This led to the discovery of some of the vehicles, seen at the crime scene, in Nyalunga’s yard. The vehicles were confiscated, and Nyalunga was arrested on July 28.

She is expected to appear in the White River Magistrate’s Court on September 27.