Another cash-in-transit heist in Pretoria, police launch manhunt

Police have confirmed that undisclosed amount of cash has been taken in yet another cash-in-transit heist in Gauteng.

Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo says a group of armed men using three German made vehicles robbed the cash-in-transit van on the N4, east of Pretoria, between Rossouw and Simon Vermooten Streets off ramp causing traffic delays on both sides of the highway.

Gunfire and two explosions have also been reported.

Motorists have been advised to avoid the route due to traffic congestion as this has caused traffic delays on both sides of the highway.

Masondo says security guards travelling on the cash-in-transit van were slightly injured and taken to the nearest hospital.

Masondo says the robbers fled the crime scene. Police have launched a manhunt for them.

The latest cash-in-transit heist comes less than 48 hours after the Boksburg one.

Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee will next week hold a special hearing on the escalation of cash-in-transit heists in the country.

The committee’s chairperson, François Beukman, says this follows a daring cash-in-transit heist in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

Over ten suspects bombed two cash vans before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash on Thursday. Seven suspects were arrested after a high-speed chase that ended up at the George Goch hostel, south of Johannesburg.

Portfolio committee chairperson, Francois Beukman, says they are extremely concerned that cash in transit heists are becoming a normal occurrence. He says these criminal acts, in which high calibre rifles are used, must be condemned.
The committee has welcomed the swift arrests of the seven suspects in the Boksburg heist. Beukman called for lengthy sentences to serve as a deterrent.