Man in court for 2021 Musina CIT robbery

LIMPOPO – Last Monday, 49-year-old Funanani Godfrey Makhado Bongwe appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on multiple serious charges, including cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery, conspiracy to commit CIT robbery, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition.

According to Hawks spokesperson in Limpopo, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, Bongwe was arrested in Thohoyandou on July 12 during a multidisciplinary disruptive operation. The operation involved the Musina-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI), Limpopo provincial intervention unit, the Thohoyandou task team, TRT, crime intelligence, and the Vhembe detectives task team.

The charges stem from a violent incident on September 8, 2021, at the Musina Mall. A Pro-Truck cash-in-transit guard was ambushed while transporting two boxes of cash from an armoured vehicle to a bank. The suspects opened fire, wounding the guard, and fled with the cash in a white bakkie.

Police from Musina and the Hawks SOCI were immediately called to the scene, where they recovered cartridges and a cellphone. The Hawks’ follow-up investigation eventually linked Bongwe to the robbery.

Following the investigation, the case was handed to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which issued a warrant for Bongwe’s arrest. He was successfully traced and arrested. The case was postponed to Tuesday (July 22).

The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender, commended the task teams involved: “This is the result of tireless collaboration and intelligence-driven operations. Well done to the team.”