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The Hawks in the Eastern Cape have lauded the swift arrest of three suspects following a cash-in-transit heist on the N6 on Monday between Komani and East London.
Provincial head Major-General Mboiki Ngwenya said the breakthrough was made by an interim cash-in–transit task team of the Hawks along members of the provincial tactical response team within a few hours of the robbery in which explosives were used.
The N6 was closed for around seven hours while investigators combed the scene.
Hawks Eastern Cape spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said three security officers were injured when the armed gang ambushed an SBV armoured vehicle en route from East London to Stutterheim.
“An SBV escort vehicle was also allegedly shot at, and backup was called to the scene.
“The suspects allegedly fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money and abandoned three vehicles from their fleet which were later circulated and discovered to have been reported stolen in other provinces. Explosives were also recovered on the scene,” she said.
Mgolodela said police received information a few hours later and proceeded to a homestead in Keiskammahoek where they came under fire.
“Police were forced to retaliate with the same force which ended with five of the assailants (being) fatally wounded.”
She said recovered cash still in the original money bags, three AK 47 riffles , 1x R1 riffle , 4 x R5 riffles ,17 magazines with a large number of live rounds of ammunition were recovered and seized in the household.
A 58-year-old man who happened to be the owner of the homestead was arrested and will appear in court in eQonce soon.
Mgolodela said police also learned about three suspects travelling in a Porsche and a roadblock was hastily set-up by members of the Hawks and various units from Cradock.
She said the vehicle failed to stop at the roadblock outside Tarkastad and a chase ensued during which “conventional methods were used” to bring the vehicle to a stop.
“Three suspects aged between 44 and 48 were arrested. Cash in stacks of R100 and R200 notes in original cash bags, four (4) burner cellphones and a Porsche Cayenne vehicle were seized during the arrest.
“On circulation the Porsche was found to be reported stolen in Gauteng,” Mgolodela added.
She said the three suspects will make their first court appearance in Cradock on Thursday.
