Since the announcement of the stabilisation operation to curb cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies by the Minister of Police, Minister Bheki Cele and the National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole on Monday, two robberies have been foiled and suspects arrested.
On Monday night, 4 June 2018 a CIT vehicle was attacked on the R511 near Meyerton. Members from the SAPS Special Task Force and the National Intervention Unit, acting on intelligence, responded and arrested three suspects and recovered a vehicle after the robbery. No money was taken.
Last night, at about 6:30pm a CIT vehicle was attacked at Letsitele area in Tzaneen. The suspects took firearms and cash and fled in two vehicle.
Members from specialised units of the SAPS, and private security assisted by local residents cordoned off the entire area. At least five suspects were cornered resulting in a shootout which left one suspect dead, three critically wounded and the fifth arrested.
A white Mercedes Benz, black Audi, cash, firearms as well as a SAPS bullet proof vest were recovered. We have already established through preliminary investigations how the suspects may have come to be in possession of SAPS vest and this will be followed up accordingly.
Some of the suspects are from the areas of Hazyview, Burgersdorp and Stuurpoort. Police are still tracking the remaining suspects and it is a matter of time before further arrests are likely to be effected.
The National Commissioner of Police has praised all the teams involved, particularly the members of the community for responding so rapidly in this latest incident.
"I want our response to these two incidents of CIT robberies to serve as a reminder to potential robbers that their chances of success in executing these crimes will be zero", said General Sitole.
"We may not have revealed too much details of our Activation Plans to effectively deal with this crime scourge but criminals can rest assured that our plans are there to ensure that they will have absolutely no space to manoeuvre", added General Sitole.
In the meantime much attention and effort is being focussed on proactive measures to prevent these incidents from taking place.