The Hawks in the Eastern Cape are investigating yet another Cash-in-Transit Heist (CIT), which took place on Tuesday along the R72 between Port Alfred and East London.
Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana says that at approximately 3.15 pm, a Fidelity Cash in Transit vehicle was travelling on the road, crossing the Keiskamma River Bridge, heading towards Chalumna Cuttings when they heard the sound of repeated gunshots.
He says at that stage, a white Ford Ranger bakkie with no number plates drove past them and blocked them from the front, soon followed by another white bakkie blocking them from the back.
W/O Mhlakuvana says six suspects approached the van and forced the driver and his passenger out of the vehicle.
He says suspects reportedly planted explosives on the CIT vehicle, instructing the guards to move away and lie down.
W/O Mhlakuvana said they were then both robbed of their 9mm pistols before setting off the explosives, which blew open the back door of the vehicle.
The explosion left the safe intact, and the suspects moved to plan B.
The men demanded the safe keys from the guards, who informed them they did not carry them. A second attempt to blow up the vehicle was also unsuccessful in opening the safe.
W/O Mhlakuvana says the suspects planted a second explosive device, but this, too, was unsuccessful in opening the safe.
He says the suspects fled the scene, empty-handed.
The guards summoned police to attend to the scene where various calibre cartridges lay spread out on the R72, leading to a road closure between Kidds Beach and Chalumna Cuttings.
Police have made no arrests, and they handed the crime scene over to the Hawks.
