CIT heist in Mahushu results in damage to house
A Masoyi police spokesperson reported that over R4m was stolen during the heist.
The increasing number of cash-in-transit (CIT) heists in the Nsikazi area, especially on the R538 leading to Hazyview, has caused a lot of havoc, leading to millions of rands being stolen and some suspects not being apprehended.
Another heist was reported on Friday August 12, during which over R4m was allegedly stolen by unknown suspects, confirmed Masoyi SAPS spokesperson Captain Nanikie Mbuyane.
The heist left Siphosethu Zitha’s newly built house in Mahushu in a shambles. The suspects invaded it in search for one of a money boxes that had landed inside it during the bombing of the CIT vehicle.
“Everything happened so quickly. Some of the suspects drove a Mercedes-Benz that they used to hit the CIT vehicle, causing to it crashing close to my gate. More armed suspects fired shots and bombed the vehicle to access the money. One of the cases landed in my house through the roof. They also fired shots to gain entry into my home. The roof, ceiling and windows were broken, and it was all the more painful to me, seeing as I had just finished installing most of these things,” said Zitha.
He said one of the six men who had been working on the final touches of his house was injured. “Fortunately, he was rushed to the nearest clinic and is healing very well. The other men managed to get away from the danger of the ordeal.”
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Zitha said being a victim of such a crime was a wake-up call that the Game area is no longer as safe as he had thought. “There was another CIT heist earlier this year in the same location. This is a cause for concern. The police from Hazyview and Masoyi were not able to get to the scene in time. These areas seems to be somewhat neglected and criminals are using this to their advantage. We are in need of a police station or even a satellite station,” Zitha said.
Mbuyane reported that the suspects set the Mercedes-Benz alight before they fled the scene using other vehicles. “We have seen an increase in car hijackings also. Our police need to be be on the ground to prevent such crimes from taking place.”
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She also called on community members to not contaminate CIT crime scenes. This after some community members had allegedly forced opened one of the cash boxes that had been left on the scene. The notes were inked due to the forced opening.
