Six suspects were arrested on Saturday, March 8, 2025, just hours after a brazen cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. The swift police response led to the recovery of stolen cash, firearms, and vehicles allegedly used in the crime.
According to Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng, the robbery occurred earlier that day when a cash van was loading money at an ATM. “The suspects accosted the security guards at gunpoint, disarming them of a rifle and a pistol before fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash,” Nevhuhulwi stated. The suspects reportedly used an Audi A3 and a Toyota Quantum as getaway vehicles.
No shots were fired during the robbery, and no injuries were reported. However, the incident prompted an immediate mobilization of police resources. A joint operation involving the Sedibeng K9 unit, Public Order Policing, and the CIT task team followed up on intelligence leads, which directed them to a house in Evaton.
“Six suspects were arrested, and two vehicles believed to have been used in the robbery were seized,” Colonel Nevhuhulwi confirmed. In addition to the vehicles, police recovered three pistols, one rifle, five cellphones, and the stolen cash.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on charges of armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Gauteng, praised the police team for their rapid response. “The swift action ensured that the suspects were apprehended while still in possession of the suspected stolen goods,” he said.
The arrests highlight the ongoing challenges South Africa faces with CIT robberies, which have plagued the country in recent years. However, the successful operation in Vanderbijlpark demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated police efforts in combating such crimes.