A daring cash-in-transit (CIT) heist unfolded near Southgate, Johannesburg, close to Xavier, where a gang armed with heavy weaponry executed a daylight robbery, amidst a cacophony of gunfire and explosions.
WATCH: Southgate cash-in-transit heist caught on camera
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Utilising four vehicles, the gang descended upon an armoured cash vehicle, orchestrating a scene of chaos caught on camera, now circulating widely on social media.
The heist, which occurred on Saturday, witnessed terrified bystanders, some shockingly running towards the scattered cash amidst the mayhem.
This incident follows a spate of similar robberies across the provinces, notably a fatal confrontation on Friday morning in KwaMashu, eThekwini, where four individuals suspected of CIT robberies were gunned down by police during an exchange of fire.
Just the evening before, another attempted CIT robbery had transpired on the N2 between KwaMashu and Nandi Drive in Durban, where assailants set an armoured cash vehicle ablaze around 19:30.
The prompt response from ALS Paramedics and police ensured the scene was swiftly secured, though the vehicle was left engulfed in flames.
Fortunately, the guards on board escaped with minor injuries, declining further medical treatment.
This incident led to the temporary closure of the N2 southbound as authorities commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attempted heist and subsequent explosion.
Data shows SAPS is losing the battle against cash heist syndicates
Data from the Cash-In-Transit Association of SA (Citasa) underscores a worrying trend, illustrating an escalation in CIT robberies, with 217 reported incidents across the country from January to August 2023, up from 191 in 2022 and 188 in 2021.
According to Citasa’s Grant Clark, the majority of these attacks, about 59%, were directed at armoured vehicles, while 31% were cross-pavement attacks, occurring as money was being transported to or loaded onto stationary armoured vehicles.
Clark highlighted a pattern, identifying Mondays as high-risk days for CIT robberies in South Africa, followed by Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
The provincial breakdown of these robberies reveals Gauteng as the epicentre, accounting for 32% of the incidents, trailed by Eastern Cape with 23%, KwaZulu-Natal with 16%, and Limpopo with 11%.
Within Gauteng, Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Soweto, Tembisa, Ga-Rankuwa, Katlehong, Randfontein, and Vereeniging have been flagged as high-risk areas.
Johannesburg police were still at the scene of the Southgate cash-in-transit heist when this article was published.