Police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, tells OFM News the arrests are a result of a multidisciplinary operation, led by crime intelligence and the provincial tactical response team. He explains further that authorities received information on the planned heist in the Phuthaditjhaba central business district (CBD) and managed to locate the armed suspects who were divided into two groups just as they were about to accost the moving cash van.

He says police spotted a vehicle “near Phuthaditjhaba Elite Section” with four armed suspects inside. They were “arrested and their vehicle was seized”. From there, six more suspects were located near a place called “Kensi town”. They were “found in possession of balaclavas, hand gloves as well as possession of two rifles and a pistol,” says Makhele. He reveals the case has been handed over to the Hawks to determine if the suspects have been involved in other robberies and/or cash-in-transit heists in the province before.

The OFM News team has in the latter half of 2019, reported on unresolved cash-in-transit heists near the Free State capital, Bloemfontein. On 4 July 2018, the Hawks in the Free State launched a manhunt for at least ten suspects alleged to have opened gunfire on a cash-in-transit van travelling along the R702 between Bloemfontein and Dewetsdorp at around 06:30. Hawks spokesperson, Lynda, Steyn, said no money was taken, nor were there any casualties. Bullet cases/shells were found by authorities strewn across the crime scene which stretched quite a distance on the R702 road.

Over a month later, about ten gunman again, armed with assault rifles blew up a cash-in-transit van travelling on the N8 road, near the Bram Fischer Airport outside Bloemfontein. The gunmen who were travelling in a double-cab bakkie and a sedan, also shot at a police helicopter which was in the area. It is unknown how much money they made away with.

The large group is expected to appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court early this coming week and the suspects will be charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.

OFM News