A 41-year-old man appeared this week before Port St Johns Magistrate Court in connection with a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery which occurred near Tombo at R61 on 4 November 2024. The suspect was facing allegations of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
His appearance follows after he was positively linked with the CIT incident that took place on the R61 road towards Mthatha direction. He was arrested on 14 March 2025, at Ngangelizwe location in Mthatha.
The Hawks report stated that the disruptive operation followed up information about a suspect that was suspected to have been involved in the aforesaid CIT incident. On 4 November 2024, a G4S armed vehicle was apparently driving past Tombo, where an unknown group of suspects driving a white single cab Isuzu bakkie suddenly opened fire on the cash vehicle.
Consequently, further reports indicated that a shootout ensued between the security guards and suspects. As a result the guards alighted from the cash vehicle and took cover to the nearest forest. The armed vehicle was ostensibly exploded by the suspects, where an undisclosed amount of cash was taken and certain vehicles were damaged.
An intensive investigation by the Hawks led to the arrest of the man in Ngangelizwe. In the house where the suspect was found the police recovered a licensed Taurus 9mm pistol with live ammunition as well as two cell phones. Firearm and cell phones were confiscated for further investigation. The suspect was remanded in custody and he is expected to appear again on 24 March 2025.
According to the Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana his identity will not be revealed due to the sensitivity of the case whilst the investigation is underway.
