Three police officers among cash-in-transit heist suspects
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Photo: NPA
Three police are among the 7 suspects who were in connection with a cash in transit heist which occurred in Mpumalanga.
Made a court appearance at Tonga Magistrates Court this past Tuesday where 6 of them including the three police officers were each released on R 5000 bail, whereas another accused, who is said to be a Tanzanian national decided to abandon his bail application.
NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said that the incident took place on 11 August 2023, on the R570 road towards Schoemansdal, outside Malelane in Mpumalanga.
It Is alleged that a group of unknown men ambushed a Fidelity armoured vehicle, with a Mercedes Benz C-class. The suspects rammed the cash van, which overturned.
The security guards were reportedly forced out of the vehicle and high calibre rifles were used on the scene, where one security officer was disarmed. The cash van was then bombed.
However, the suspects were arrested later on the same day while the other one was arrested few days later.
“The investigation is ongoing and the team is pursuing the two wanted accused, Zola Martin Minisi (29) and Mpendulo Absima Hassane (31) who are sought by the Hawks after they were linked to the crimes.”
“During investigation, it was established that Mnisi was further linked to cash-in-transit heist and murder of a Fidelity security guard (Kabokweni case), another cash-in-transit heist and murder of a G4S security guard (White River case).”
Nyuswa also said that these suspects, aged between 24 and 44 were ordered that the accused report to the nearest police stations every Friday, between 06:00 and 18:00 as part of their bail condition.
The three officers Sunday Mashego (39), Collen Nonyane (44) and Bhekinkosi Godi (39), all attached to the White River Flying Squad, were charged with five counts of attempted murder, three counts of possession of stolen property, possession of firearms and ammunition, malicious damage to property, possession of explosives as well as conspiracy to commit crime.
The matter is set to appear again on December 6th pending further investigations and arrest of two other suspects, Zola Martin Minisi (29) and Mpendulo Absima Hassane (31) who are allegedly linked to the matter.
