supplied- HAWKS
The Hawks in the Eastern Cape based in East London is seeking public assistance to locate seven suspects involved in Monday's cash-in-transit heist in which a police member was wounded.
Spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela says at about 6 pm, a G4S security armoured vehicle (AV) was transporting money from Butterworth back to East London.
She says as the vehicle approached the Ndabakazi turnoff, several suspects in three white bakkies fired shots at the armoured vehicle (AV) until it lost control and rolled landing on the roof.
Captain Mgolodela says three of the guards were ordered to exit the vehicle at gunpoint before the AV was blown up with explosives.
She says while the guards were lying injured, the suspects started collecting an undisclosed amount of money.
The Hawks says at this time a police vehicle came across the scene where a shootout ensued, wounding one officer.
The suspects fled in their three Toyota bakkies.
Appeal for information
The Hawks are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that can lead to the arrest of at least 20 suspects who are facing seven charges of attempted murder and armed robbery.
The appeal comes just days after G4S Cash Solutions offered a reward following the recent attacks on its cash-in-transit vehicles in the Mthatha area.
The company is offering R100 000 for "credible, useful information" that would lead to the successful arrest, prosecution, and conviction of criminals behind the attacks in the Eastern Cape.
Managing Director, Amit Devir, said over the past three months there has been a "significant" increase in attacks in the Eastern Cape.
He said CIT attacks are becoming more violent, which puts their people and members of the public in danger.
G4S said people can contact Steven Kruger on 0832693403 or email investigation@za.g4s.com.
The Hawks added that any arrest leading to a conviction due to the information provided would result in a substantial reward paid to the whistle-blower.
