The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Bloemfontein has arrested six men regarding a cash-in-transit robbery at the Botshabelo Sasko bakery depot late in 2022, which also saw workers taken hostage. An employee of the bakery is among the suspects.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the armed robbers ambushed a G4S vehicle and took an undisclosed amount of money at the bakery depot on 22 November 2022. He said a breakthrough came with the arrests of some of the suspects between February and November last year.
The ongoing investigation saw an employee of the bakery, Sonwabo Madada (41), nabbed on Tuesday, 9 January, at the bakery. He is remanded in custody together with Letsika Cosby Mmola (33) and Khayalethu Mpangeni (30), arrested on 6 January in the Eastern Cape.
Singo said Madada and Mpangeni are set to reappear in the Botshabelo Magistrates’ Court to apply for bail on 16 January. Those granted bail, ranging from R5 000 to R10 000, are Tumelo Hlathe Ramotshabi (39), Lebogang Martin Mokgele (37), and Teboho Benedict Letsoho (37).
“Mmola was denied bail,”said Singo. He said Mmola, Ramotshabi, Mokgele, and Letsoho will reappear in court on 2 February.
“All the accused are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions as well as conspiracy to commit a robbery,” said Singo.
“On 22 November 2022, during the day, unknown suspects at the time entered the premises of the Sasko bakery depot in Botshabelo and took personnel hostage. They then waited for the arrival of a G4S vehicle to collect money at the premises. The suspects attacked the G4S security personnel on arrival and then they took their firearms and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money,” said Singo. He said arrests were made through information received from Crime Intelligence (CI).
