The Tongaat Toll Plaza offices were robbed of approximately R165 000 in cash by armed men in the early hours of Thursday morning.

According to eThekwini district spokesperson, captain Carmen Rhynes, the lead-up to the robbery began on Wednesday night when a toll road assistance driver received a call to aid a stranded motorist near the N2 at Crocodile Creek.

Arriving at the location, the driver was approached by a man who claimed the vehicle had run out of fuel. Moments later three other men appeared, blindfolded the driver and drove around with him for several hours.

“At around 3:52am, the driver noticed they were parked at the Tongaat Toll offices where the men forced him to knock on the door,” said Rhynes.

“Once the door was opened, three suspects stormed the building and threatened employees with firearms. They demanded access to the office safe. When the supervisor indicated he did not have the keys, the men resorted to stealing 21 boxes containing approximately R165 000 in cash,” said Rhynes.

The stolen money was loaded into a Tongaat toll van and a white Toyota Hilux. The robbers then locked the staff in a saferoom before fleeing the scene.

“No shots were fired during the incident and no injuries reported. The suspects remain unknown at this stage,” said Rhynes.

Ensure Security reported that the Toyota Hilux was later found abandoned in La Mercy.

Tongaat SAPS is investigating cases of carjacking and business robbery.

SANRAL had not responded by the time of publication.

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