A 40-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the cash-in-transit robbery and attempted murder at Food Lover’s Market in Somerset West in January.
Lieutenant-Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), said following a thorough investigation, a possible suspect was identified and positively linked to the crime.
Nyameka Samela was arrested by Hawks officers on Wednesday 14 May.
Samela’s arrest follows the cash-in-transit robbery at the Somerset West store at 18:05 on Monday 27 January. During the incident, a G4S cash vehicle was apparently collecting cash at the store at the Somerset Value Centre in the Somerset Mall precinct.
“When the crewman went inside the store to collect the cash, he was accosted by armed suspects,” Vukubi said. “One of the suspects opened fire on the running crew member and wounded him. The suspects fled the scene with two bags of cash estimated at R331 000.
“Through investigation, a possible suspect was identified and a positive linkage was made. The identified suspect, Nyameko Samela is currently in custody on other unrelated matters. Samela was requisitioned and appeared in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court [on the related charges] on Thursday 15 May.”
The case was postponed to Thursday 3 July. Samela remains in custody.
