By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Three accused, Mosa Bhekifa Ngwenyama (30), a taxi driver, Ali Obi Ebrahim(24) (a foreign national), a spaza shop cashier and Mfanasibili Lawrence Lubisi (44), the owner of the safe house and also a messenger at the Department of Agriculture, were remanded in custody by the Malelane Magistrate Court on Monday, 14 August 2023.
Their case was postponed to 21 August 2023 for bail application.
According to Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, the trio were arrested during a multi-disciplinary intelligence driven operation conducted by the team consisting of the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Provincial task team, Crime Intelligence National Office, National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Team and private companies on 11 August 2023 at Schoemansdal.
“The arrest followed after an armored vehicle (AV) of Fidelity was traveling se rom Malelane towards Tonga on 11 August 2023 when it was attacked by a group of suspects.
“Approximately 15 km from the N4, the AV was rammed by a C- class, Mercedes Benz where it lost control and overturned. The AV was bombed, and an undisclosed amount of money destined for a business in Tonga was stolen. Suspects fled in the direction of Tonga,” said Sekgotodi.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Gerber, has conveyed his gratitude towards the multi-disciplinary team tasked with preventing and investigating the Cash-In-Transit heist.
He further appreciated the good working relationship between the police and the community.
‘’We cannot conquer crime alone, we need more information from the community in order for us to be able to arrest and remove the criminals from the community to jail where they belong,” said Gerber.
