They were granted bail of R2 000 each during their appearance in the Sasolburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday (30/06).

Their case has been postponed to 3 August 2023.

Charges against them include stealing, defeating the ends of justice, and money laundering.

 It is also possible to add a charge of violating an oath of office.

 “They allegedly took R1 million which they had recovered from members of the public who had helped themselves to this cash during a cash-in-transit heist in Sasolburg on 4 February 2022," says the provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, Zweli Mohobeleli.

"Instead of registering the recovered money in the police store, these police officials reportedly pocketed the money,” says Mohobeleli.

On Thursday (29/6), a warrant was obtained and they were arrested.

The suspects are Warrant Officer Sello Edward Moopela (50), Sergeants Morena Caroll Semase (38) and Solomon Ramoisa Rasentsoere (42), and Constable Petrus Zwelonakele Mphethu (42), and Seponono Benedict Mohoang (40).

On that particular day, a G4S cash delivery van was attacked while it was travelling along the R57 between Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg. It was ambushed by a group of armed men in four vehicles.

Unknown sums of money were stolen by the group, who then drove off in a white Toyota Fortuner and a red Hyundai SUV.

The five accused are from the police in the Kroonstad K9 unit and Zamdela in Sasolburg.

Crossfire involving the armed robbers resulted in the death of a police officer and the injury of three security personnel.

OFM News