Khanyisile Nyalunga was recently arrested by the Hawks after her involvement in an attempted cash-in-transit heist came to light.
The 29-year-old traffic officer, based in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, was arrested on Friday, 28 July 2023, following the heist attempt that occurred the previous day, per News24.
Stolen vehicles used in the botched heist were allegedly discovered parked in her yard, leading to her arrest.
The Foiled Cash-In-Transit Heist
The incident unfolded on Thursday at approximately 13:00 when a cash van travelling from White River to Hazyview was targeted in the foiled heist.
A grey Mercedes-Benz sedan rammed into the armoured van, and armed suspects immediately opened fire, injuring the security guards on board.
However, the situation escalated further when other security guards from the cash-in-transit company arrived at the scene, resulting in a fierce shootout that forced the robbers to flee the scene in three other sedan vehicles.
A Breakthrough in the Investigation
Investigations into the attempted heist were carried out relentlessly by the Hawks, and crucial information led them to Khanyisile Nyalunga.
The breakthrough came when stolen vehicles, linked to the crime scene, were discovered parked at her residence. The recovered vehicles, a silver Mercedes-Benz ML 250 and a Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan had been stolen in Mpumalanga and Gauteng on separate occasions.
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Charges Faced by Nyalunga
As a consequence of her alleged involvement in the heist attempt, Nyalunga is facing a series of serious charges. These include conspiracy to commit robbery under aggravating circumstances, attempted murder for her role in the violent attack on the security guards, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Major General Nicolas Gerber, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, commended the relentless efforts of his team in this case and emphasised their commitment to tackling crime. He assured the public that the Hawks would continue their pursuit of criminals until justice is served.
Captain Dineo Sekgotodi of the Mpumalanga Hawks called on the public to play a crucial role in combating cash-in-transit robberies.
She urged anyone with useful information about suspected incidents to contact the Hawks, assuring them that their identities would be treated with utmost confidentiality.