A traffic officer has been shot and wounded during a brazen cash-in-transit robbery that occurred near Hillside View in Bloemfontein on Friday 3 April, prompting condemnation from provincial authorities and the mobilisation of a multi-departmental investigation team.
An IZI Cash Company armoured vehicle was ambushed at approximately 06:10 whilst travelling on OR Tambo Road en route to Reddersburg.
A silver Mercedes-Benz intentionally crashed into the cash vehicle, forcing it off the road and causing it to overturn into a nearby field.
Between 10 and 12 heavily armed suspects, dressed in blue overalls and balaclavas, subsequently attacked and disarmed the security personnel in what officials described as an extremely coordinated and violent criminal act. The suspects fired several rounds using high-calibre weapons, including R5 and AK-47 rifles, though no cash was taken during the robbery.
The attackers managed to steal three firearms and loaded magazines from the security personnel before fleeing the scene. During the incident, a Department of Traffic vehicle passing near the scene was shot at by the suspects. The driver, a traffic officer, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. She remains in stable condition and is recovering in the hospital. Other police vehicles that responded to the scene also came under fire from the fleeing suspects. Members of the police who were in the vicinity also came under fire. One member sustained minor injuries.
Jabu Mbalula, MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, has strongly condemned the robbery and attempted murder. “This senseless violence not only puts individuals in harm’s way but also puts communities at risk. We will not let criminal elements challenge law and order in our province,” Mbalula stated.
A Law Enforcement Multi-Departmental Group has been mobilised to investigate the incident, including the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, Tactical Response team, K9 unit, Airwing, Anti-Gang unit, Local Criminal Record Centre and District Task Team. The coordinated response reflects the serious nature of the crime and the authorities’ determination to apprehend those responsible.
Mbalula has appealed to law enforcement authorities and community members who could provide information.
“Through the joint operation of intelligence, we believe those responsible for this heinous crime will be prosecuted. The Free State will not be a safe haven for criminals,” Mbalula said.
WO Fikiswa Matoti, spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed that the elite investigation unit is leading the inquiry into the incident. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the targeting of cash-in-transit vehicles by organised criminal syndicates, which have become increasingly violent in their methods.
The incident represents a disturbing escalation in criminal tactics, with suspects not only targeting security personnel but also attacking law enforcement officers who responded to the scene. The coordinated nature of the attack, involving multiple armed suspects and precise timing, suggests the involvement of a well-organised criminal network.
