Mashinini did not stay at the scene for very long and was seen leaving shortly after overseeing the initial investigation. No media interviews were allowed at that stage. National police spokesperson, Brenda Muridili, confirms that authorities arrested five people in connection with the crime, while a sixth suspect has died in a local hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head – following a shootout with police. In addition to four vehicles, an unknown number of unlicensed firearms and an undisclosed amount of money have been confiscated in the incident.

The national police spokesperson, tells OFM News that at around 05:30 am, a multidisciplinary team was on standby as they observed an unknown vehicle deliberately crash into a G4S escort vehicle at a busy intersection on the OR Tambo Road in Bloemfontein. Not only did the first group of suspect’s vehicle erupt in flames from the impact of the intended crash, but a shootout between police and the suspects ensued thereafter. Not too far from the vehicle was a G4S cash van that was headed in the direction of the N6 road. That van was brought to a halt and blast open using explosives by a second group of assailants.

This second team was cornered by police in their getaway vehicle next to South Park cemetery. They abandoned the vehicle which still had money inside and fled on foot. One of the suspects was shot in the head, allegedly by a police officer and was taken to hospital for medical attention, where he died. A G4S security guard was also injured during the shootout.

This swift response from authorities comes on the back of a number of unsolved heists occurring in the Bloemfontein area in the latter half of 2019. On 4 July 2019, 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 on at around 06:30 am that Monday morning.

Hawks spokesperson Lynda Steyn said at the time no money was taken, nor were there any casualties. Bullet shells were found strewn across the crime scene which stretched quite a distance on the R702 road. Over a month later, about ten gunmen - 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.

Muridili says the suspects will be appearing in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.

OFM News