The South African Police Service’s Tactical Response Team (TRT) supported by the National Cash-in-transit (CIT) Task Team, conducted an intelligence- driven operation in Akasia in the Gauteng province which resulted in a shootout between the police and the suspects on 5 May 2020.
Two out of three suspects , who are believed to be part of a syndicate that commits business robberies in and around Tshwane District, were fatally wounded and the third suspect managed to flee the scene. The police recovered three firearms and a bakkie.
On Tuesday, TRT members received information that the suspects were planning to rob business premises in Amandasig near Wonder Park north of Pretoria. The suspects arrived after the business had already closed and so they decided to leave the area. The police pursued the suspect’s vehicle which had no registration plates with three occupants in it. The members subsequently tried to stop the bakkie at the corner of Doreen and First streets in Chantelle suburb which resulted in a shootout. One suspect was fatally wounded on the scene and the second suspect died on arrival at a hospital. The third suspect managed to flee the scene on foot.
During the arrest the police recovered three firearms and ammunition as well as the bakkie. The firearms will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic testing to determine whether they have been used in other crimes. The bakkie, which is suspected to have been stolen is currently being analysed by the SAPS’s Vehicle Identification Unit.
The suspects have been linked to at least 10 business robberies in the Tshwane District. It is believed that these three suspects are part of a syndicate that has been linked to CIT robberies as well. Since the inception of the Lockdown the syndicate has been committing business robberies. The National CIT Task Team has to date arrested four members of the syndicate and they have been identified as Bibo Mavundlha, Boyboy Mogale, Koketso Phahla and Sammy Sebelebele. They were arrested between the 15th and 22nd April 2020 in separate incidents and they are all facing charges ranging from aggravated robbery, business robbery, possession of stolen vehicles, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The four have already appeared in various courts and remanded in custody. All the arrested men are linked to CIT robberies and it is believed that since the Lockdown started, they have been targeting businesses that are operating such as supermarkets. The National CIT Task Team’s efforts to trace persons of interest linked to CIT robberies continues and they are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to ensure the inhabitants of this country are and feel safe.
