A man (48) appeared in court last Thursday after being arrested by Hawks’ National Priority Violent Crimes (NPVC) team in Bellville the day before.
According to a statement by the Hawks, the suspect appeared at the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on a charge of armed robbery. “His arrest comes after a cash-in-transit heist that occurred in Macassar shopping centre involving several robbers armed with assault rifles in April 2021,” Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani says.
He was arrested in Bellville where he was in custody on another matter.
“It is reported that the suspects fled the scene towards Stellenbosch probably ending in Khayamandi township. One getaway vehicle was cornered and there was an exchange of gunfire. The suspects were tracked down to Khayamandi taxi rank.” At the time three suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the heist.
“Five firearms, including three AK-47 rifles as well as five vehicles, were seized. Two of the vehicles had been hijacked as they fled the Macassar scene. One of the guards, Momelezi Jikwana, was also arrested and charged.”
