PRETORIA – The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla John Sitole has welcomed and commended the multi-disciplinary team that traced and arrested four men suspected to be connected to the attempted cash in transit robbery that occurred this morning at Hibberdene CBD. A security guard was fatally shot and two others sustained gunshot wounds.
It is alleged that a group of heavily armed suspects engaged in a shootout with the security guards that were about to offload cash at an ATM in Hibberdene CBD at about 05:30. During the crossfire, one guard was shot several times and he died on the scene. Two other guards sustained gunshot wounds to the leg and shoulder, respectively.
The driver of the cash van managed to speed off towards the N2 freeway, escaping from the scene unscathed while the suspects fled the scene empty-handed. The injured guards were taken to the hospital for medical attention.
Within a few hours, the multi-disciplinary team comprising of various units within the SAPS as well as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation members arrested four suspects in a house at Kwa-Madlala area in Southport. Three rifles and a pistol and were recovered during the arrest. The suspected getaway vehicle was also recovered in a ditch next to the N2 freeway near Port Shepstone.
General Sitole has applauded the swift implementation of the 72-hour activation plan that resulted in the arrest of the four suspects within a few hours. He has also conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased security guard and wished the injured guards a speedy recovery.