An ATM bombing allegedly attempted by the notorious Zama Zamas in Honingklip, Muldersdrift, was thwarted.
Victim shot in botched Honingklip ATM bombing
According to reports, a group of 12 armed individuals, known colloquially as Zama Zamas, attempted to execute an ATM bombing at a local BP gas station, in the wee hours of Friday.
The assailants successfully detonated explosives at one ATM, while a second device failed to ignite.
Amidst the chaos, one bystander suffered gunshot wounds. The attack in Honingklip is part of a disturbing rise in ATM bombings across Gauteng and other provinces.
Prominent explosives syndicate taken down in major operation
In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement officials have dismantled a notorious syndicate believed to be a key supplier of explosives to criminals involved in cash-in-transit heists, ATM bombings, and illegal mining operations.
The coordinated effort spearheaded by SAPS’s ‘Operation Shanela’ culminated in the arrest of three men and a woman in Welkom, Free State.
The suspects were apprehended with 40 explosives and numerous accessories for explosives.
Investigations have linked this syndicate to a series of crimes across the Free State, Eastern Cape, North West, and Gauteng.
“Through Operation Shanela police have seized 11 481 explosives during roadblocks, tracing as well as stop and search operations since May 2023. 173 suspects have also been arrested during the same period for the illegal possession of explosives,” a statement from the police read.