Central SA
N8 cash-in-transit suspect in court─── ZENANDE MPAME 09:29 Thu, 04 Sep 2025
A suspect is expected to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (4/9) in connection with a cash-in-transit heist on the N8 between Bloemfontein and Botshabelo.
A multi-disciplinary police operation arrested him on Wednesday following the heist on the N8 the day before, when a BMW rammed into a cash delivery van. Numerous robbers fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Two security officers from the cash-in-transit company have sustained minor injuries.
The team responded to information from the public and found two vehicles used in the robbery in Botshabelo. One was reported stolen in Bloemfontein in May.
Police surrounded a house in Botshabelo Section H2 following the cash-in-transit heist. Photo: Facebook
Two security officers from a cash-in-transit company have sustained minor injuries after a heist on the N8 outside Bloemfontein towards Botshabelo in the Free State.
A search led to the discovery of several assault rifles, a pistol, rounds of ammunition, bullet-resistant vests, clothing items, and an unknown concoction inside a bottle.
A cash delivery van was travelling on the N8 on Tuesday (2/9) when a group of armed suspects attacked. “Later the same day, a marked police vehicle was shot at by suspects believed to be part of the robbery; no one was injured,” said Free State Hawks spokesperson Fikiswa Matoti.
“A team was immediately assembled to trace the suspects, and information led the team to a house in Section H in Botshabelo, where two vehicles fitting the description of those used in the robbery were found.”
In July, a heist occurred on the same road near Mandela View. Preliminary reports indicated the CIT vehicle was targeted and blown up using explosives. The full extent of the damage and any potential injuries remained unclear.
A group of unknown assailants driving a silver Mercedes-Benz rammed the cash vehicle and opened fire. The driver of the cash vehicle was shot and sustained an injury to the right arm.
The suspects reportedly set the Mercedes-Benz on fire and disarmed the security guards by taking their firearms. The robbers then used explosives to forcibly open the safe inside the cash vehicle, making away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
“I am disturbed by what appears to be a repeat of what happened on the same road earlier this year,” said Free State head of Hawks Maj. Gen. Mokgadi Bokaba. “Stakeholders must come together to devise plans to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future. Investigations continue.”
