The tranquil streets of Mhala, Mpumalanga, were shattered by a high-stakes cash-in-transit robbery, prompting an intense manhunt led by the Hawks.
Manhunt launched for suspects behind Mhala cash-in-transit heist
Authorities are now calling for community assistance to track down the suspects involved in this daring daylight heist.
On 17 May 2023, around 12:25, a G4S armoured vehicle (AV) was travelling along D4394, the New Forest Main Road, when it faced an ambush just past the Eagle petrol station.
The perpetrators, employing a white Audi sedan, launched their attack from behind, targeting the AV’s tyres and cab with gunfire.
The AV’s crew, facing a barrage of bullets, was forced to a halt. Six assailants, armed with AK-47s and donning balaclavas and gloves, then commandeered the vehicle.
In a ruthless move, they disarmed the driver and crew, seizing their firearms and a Samsung Galaxy A11 cell phone. The crew was compelled to hide as the robbers bombed the AV twice before fleeing the scene.
In the aftermath of the chaos, the G4S members emerged from their hiding places to witness a shocking sight: community members looting cash scattered around the crime scene.
Despite the immediate danger, the driver managed to contact their office and report the incident. However, the exact amount of cash stolen remains unknown.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks has issued a public plea for information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects and descriptions of the vehicles involved in the crime.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the General warned the public against tampering with crime scenes.
Such actions not only pose physical danger, such as the risk of unexploded explosives.
“They also contaminate the crime scene, which can jeopardise future court processes,” the General said.