A brazen cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery unfolded on the R544 between Groblersdal and eMalahleni at approximately 18:30 on Monday night, leaving a cash van bombed and a trail of chaos in its wake. Ten suspects are believed to be involved in the heist, making off with an undisclosed amount of money.
According to police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall, the G4S cash van, carrying two security officers, was en route to their base in eMalahleni when the incident occurred. The van was being escorted by another security vehicle, also manned by two officers. As they travelled, gunshots rang out, signalling the start of the ambush.
The driver of the cash van brought the vehicle to a halt, at which point they observed a silver VW T-Cross and a white Toyota Hilux double cab approaching. Simultaneously, the escorting vehicle was targeted by the robbers, who were driving a VW Polo. The Polo forced the escort vehicle off the road, causing it to overturn, leaving the security officers inside vulnerable.
With the escort vehicle disabled, the robbers turned their full attention to the cash van. They swiftly disarmed the security guards, before forcibly removing them from the vehicle. Showing a chilling disregard for the safety of their captives, the robbers ordered the guards to lie down in the grass at the side of the road.
Once the guards were prone and defenceless, the robbers proceeded to bomb the cash van, detonating explosives twice to ensure its destruction. With the cash van thoroughly breached, the suspects seized their loot and fled the scene, leaving behind a scene of devastation.
Fortunately, despite the audacious nature of the robbery and the use of explosives, no one was seriously injured during the heist. However, the psychological impact on the security guards involved, and the wider community, is likely to be significant.
ALS Paramedics, responding to the scene near Richmond, found multiple vehicles damaged, some overturned. Police were also in attendance, securing the area and beginning their investigation.
Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, reported the grim discovery: "One person, believed to be a civilian, has been killed as a result of gunshot wounds." He added that "Multiple other casualties are being attended to as a result of vehicles being involved in collisions and gunshot injuries."
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the cash-in-transit heist erupted into a barrage of gunfire and widespread chaos on the R56, near the second Bainesfield offramp outside Richmond, shortly after 5:15pm. The scene was one of carnage, with bullet-riddled vehicles and shattered glass littering the roadway.
"Paramedics arrived on the scene to find chaos and carnage," Jamieson stated. "The scene was spread over some distance with multiple vehicles damaged as a result of bullet holes as well as crashes, including the damaged cash vehicle."
Emergency responders immediately began treating the injured, while the South African Police Service and private security teams worked to secure the area. Among the victims was a man who was reportedly travelling in a taxi and was caught in the crossfire, sustaining fatal gunshot wounds.
"Paramedics assessed him however, unfortunately he had passed away on the scene due to the injuries sustained," Jamieson confirmed, highlighting the tragic consequences of these brazen attacks.
The frequency and intensity of these CIT robberies are a cause for serious concern. The use of explosives, the willingness to engage in gunfire, and the disregard for human life demonstrate a level of desperation and ruthlessness among the perpetrators.
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