Traffic officer arrested for attempted CIT heist in Mpumalanga
Eyewitnesses identified her vehicle as one of those allegedly used during the attempted robbery.
A Mbombela traffic officer is in hot water after it is alleged that stolen vehicles, used in a foiled CIT heist in Hazyview wherein two security guards were shot and wounded, were found at her house.
Khanyisile Viola Nyalunga (29), was remanded in custody following her appearance in the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the attempted heist that occurred on Thursday, July 27. She was arrested the day after the heist.
According to the Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, on Thursday, at about 13:30, a Fidelity Security armoured vehicle (AV) was traveling from White River to Hazyview, escorted by a TSU security vehicle.
“At the White River/Hazyview junction, as the AV turned right into Hazyview, it was rammed by a grey Mercedes-Benz sedan. The suspects immediately started to shoot at the AV, wounding the security guards. They were transported to hospital for medical treatment.
“The TSU [vehicle] also arrived and returned fire. According to information, the suspects fled in three sedan vehicles.”
Sekgotodi says that witnesses identified one of Nyalungu’s vehicles fleeing the scene transporting suspects and firearms allegedly used during the heist.
Nyalungu was arrested after other vehicles also seen at the scene were allegedly found parked in her yard.
Sekgotodi said during preliminary investigations it was discovered that the recovered vehicles were stolen. The silver Mercedes-Benz ML 250 was stolen in the Mhala area in June this year, and the Mercedes-Benz C Class sedan stolen in the Vosloorus area in February 2021.
Nyalunga is facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The case against Nyalungu was postponed until today for further bail application.
Nyalunga’s arrest follows a joint operation by the Nelspruit Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the National Intervention Unit, provincial detectives and the Nelspruit Local Criminal Record Centre.
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