Nongoma CIT heist suspects nabbed in Durban

Case dockets were registered at the various police stations and an intensive investigation conducted.

1 hour ago

Muzi Zincume 2 minutes read

One of the suspects' getaway vehicles was set alight after the CIT robbery

THREE suspects – aged 37, 39 and 51 – believed to have been involved in a recent cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Nongoma were arrested in Durban on Saturday.

The trio was caught by members of the Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, with other DPCI National Priority Violence Crime (NPVC) units, Provincial Crime Intelligence, eThekwini District Trio Task Team, and the Durban Metro Police Trio Task Team.

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The suspects were positively linked to the CIT heist in Nkunzana, Nongoma on 6 August. The vehicle was travelling from Pongola to deliver money for pension payouts.

The CIT vehicle was bombed during the heist

KZN Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said, while the guards were driving along the R66, the van came under fire by suspects in two vehicles.

“The suspects fired shots towards the armoured vehicle until it stopped. Security guards were ordered to exit the vehicle, and they were robbed of two rifles and one 9mm pistol,” said Mhlongo.

“The suspects reportedly used explosives to blow the armoured cash van open and took an undisclosed amount of money, fleeing the scene in getaway vehicles towards Magudu.

“It’s alleged that when the suspects arrived in Magudu, they burnt both getaway vehicles and drove off in a VW Kombi towards Ngome.”

Police gave chase, he says, and the suspects fired shots at them while heading to Vryheid, where they hijacked a K9 Unit police vehicle as well as another civilian vehicle.

“One police officer was robbed of his service pistol during the hijacking. The State vehicle was abandoned near Nkamani Dam and the suspects allegedly hijacked another vehicle which was later found abandoned in Mondlo township.

“The suspects then fled towards Gluckstadt, where they abandoned their VW Kombi and one hijacked vehicle.”

Mhlongo says police processed all crime scenes, recovering R23 000 in damaged cash notes, a cellphone, balaclavas, live rounds of ammunition, empty cartridges and other exhibits in the abandoned VW Kombi.

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Case dockets were registered at the various police stations and an intensive investigation conducted.

During the arrest, Mhlongo says police seized cellphones, cash and one vehicle suspected to have been used during the robbery.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Nongoma Magistrate’s Court soon.

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