Cape Town – A security guard lost his life while two others were left injured after a group of gunmen ambushed two cash vans in a cash-in-transit heist near Hazview in Mpumalanga on Wednesday morning.
The suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a group of 15 gunmen in several vehicles attacked two cash vans as they travelled towards Hazyview.
They allegedly used a Mercedes-Benz sedan to ram into the front of one of the vans, Mohlala said.
“The suspects further fired some shots at the guards, resulting in one security guard losing his life after sustaining serious injuries. After that, the suspects reportedly robbed the guards of their firearms and then detonated some explosives. The Mercedes-Benz they were using, as well as the security van, were destroyed by a fire during the incident,” said Mohlala in a statement.
#sapsMP Hazyview #SAPS are investigating a #CIT incident which occurred on R40 Road near Hazyview on 25/01/23. During the incident a security guard who also worked as co-driver was fatally shot meanwhile other guards sustained minor injuries. #CrimeStop TMhttps://t.co/Nfdbw65P03 pic.twitter.com/MRZ5RMSUGr
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) January 26, 2023
The suspects assaulted one security guard, while another was injured in the accident.
The gunmen took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled towards Masoyi in a Jeep Cherokee, Kia SUV and a Ford Ranger double-cab bakkie.
Police and security guards pursued the robbers, and a second shootout ensued between the suspects and law enforcement officers, said Mohlala
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.Police recovered one of the stolen firearms and an undisclosed amount of cash in nearby bushes.
Whilst police were processing the scene, a Sanral employee responsible for cleaning up the roads was found in possession of an undisclosed amount of cash which was suspected to have been stolen out of the safe of the damaged cash van.
“The 32-year-old was immediately arrested on charges of theft and he will appear before the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court on 26 January 2023,” said Mohlala
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Picture: Twitter/ @SAPoliceService
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
