Police are currently on a manhunt for a group of robbers who targeted a cash-in-transit vehicle on Wednesday afternoon along the KZN North Coast. According to Brigadier Jay Naicker, the incident occurred on the R74 towards Maphumulo shortly after noon. Reportedly, the assailants, traveling in a bakkie, opened fire on the cash-in-transit vehicle, forcing it off the road. They proceeded to disarm the security officers at gunpoint before detonating the vehicle’s safe and absconding with an undisclosed sum of money.

Naicker stated that KwaDukuza SAPS is investigating the incident as a case of armed robbery and attempted murder. A comprehensive search operation involving multiple units is currently underway to apprehend the perpetrators. Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya, head of the DPCI (Hawks), expressed concern over the persistent issue of cash-in-transit heists in the country. He highlighted ongoing collaborative efforts between law enforcement and private entities to combat these crimes, emphasizing the dangerous disregard for bystanders’ lives exhibited by such criminals.

During the presentation of the fourth quarter statistics for the 2023/24 financial year, Lebeya disclosed that 51 cases of cash-in-transit robberies had been reported. This period saw the arrest of twenty individuals, with fifteen convictions secured.

Highlighting a specific case, Lebeya noted that two men were recently convicted in the Eastern Cape High Court for their involvement in CIT robberies dating back to March 2022. Lwando Ntiyantiya, 36, and Nkosekhaya Lloyd, 38, received severe penalties including multiple life sentences and lengthy prison terms for charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and firearms violations.

In other news – Makhadzi challenges government department over misinformation clash with Gayton McKenzie

Musician Makhadzi has responded to claims by South Africa’s Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (DSAC) that they provided her with assistance for her attendance at the recent BET Awards. Contrary to DSAC’s assertions, Makhadzi clarified that the department had only compensated her for past services, not funded her trip.

The DSAC faced criticism after it was revealed that Makhadzi, who has been dealing with financial challenges, financed her US trip through a loan from a private lender. Recently, DSAC, led by Minister Gayton McKenzie, mandated the public disclosure of beneficiaries of departmental funding, specifying amounts and reasons for the support. Read More