GALLERY: Residents devastated by the Tshongweni CIT heist
Windows of at least 19 houses were left broken, while walls, roofs, ceilings and some furniture suffered damaged.
Residents in Tshongweni section, Katlehong, are still recovering from the damage caused by the explosives used to bomb a vehicle during a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist on December 29.
The heist occurred on Motsose Street, but nearby houses in Liphoko and Madia streets were damaged by the explosion.
Windows of at least 19 houses were left broken, while walls, roofs, ceilings and some furniture suffered damaged.
The incident left community members devastated as most of them are without home insurance and are unemployed.
One of the affected residents is Kamohelo Nakedi (34), who lives two houses away from where the incident occurred.
The blast did damage to the corrugated iron roof and ceiling of the family home.
Nakedi said she was home when the incident occurred. She initially confused the gunshots for fireworks.
“When the bomb went off I heard a house collapsing, but I thought it was at uncle Thato’s house. I then discovered it was my brother’s (Katlego) room outside the main house,” explained Nakedi.
“I was heartbroken to think my brother was in that room. The first thing I did was scream his name. Fortunately, even though I didn’t know it at the time, he was out to get some refreshments,” said Nakedi.
This incident happened not long after Nakedi used her retrenchment package to fix the house. The required amount for repairs of the windows, furniture, roof and the ceiling is R56 000.
“We are now in the rainy season and some of us do not have money to fix our roofs since some of us lost our jobs due to Covid-19,” she said.
The CIT heist took place just outside Robert Montseng’s (74) home.
“I was sitting in the dining room when I heard gunshots. I immediately laid down on the floor. The last thing I heard was something like a stick of dynamite or a kind of bomb going off.
“I started praying. I saw people jumping into my yard for their own safety. No one attempted to force their way inside the house,” said Montseng.
Montseng’s home suffered damage, with almost all the windows broken and the brick fence damaged. The house was also left riddled with bullet holes.
Another affected resident is Elizabeth Mokonyane (54) and her family. The family at the time was enjoying the December holidays.
“I was shocked and scared to return to a damaged house, but I am thankful that it happened while we were not at home. I would really appreciate if they could compensate us for repairs on our house,” said Montseng.
Community representative Thato Potsane, who was selected by the community to assess the damage on all 19 houses, said the estimated cost for the damage is R300 000.
The affected residents are now preparing to engage with the security company on the matter.
Katlehong North SAPS spokesperson Capt Lesetja Mathobela confirmed that a case of malicious damage to property has been registered. The case is still under investigation.
ALSO READ:
Security guard injured in Katlehong CIT heist, robbers make off with cash
