What You Need to Know:
Three men and one woman from South Africa’s Free State province were arrested last Wednesday following an investigation into the use of explosives in cash-in-transit (CIT) heists, ATM bombings, and illegal mining.
The group are set to appear in the Welkom Magistrates Court on Friday to face charges under the 1956 Explosives Act.
National Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlena Mathe stated, “the suspects are believed to be involved in a number of cases where explosives were used in the commission of crimes such as ATM bombings, CIT’s and illicit mining activities in the Free State, Eastern Cape, North West and Gauteng.”
CIT bombings are a common occurrence in South Africa, and involve the targeting of vehicles used to transport money with explosives. Oftentimes the perpetrators are heavily armed.
As previously reported, ‘the South African Police Force (SAPS) has noted that over time, the robberies have become violent. Grant Clark, the head of the South African Cash in Transit Association stated in April, “Cash-in-transit robbery incidents, when perpetrators attack the crew when conducting services at clients, are on the increase. The group size of these perpetrators is becoming bigger. They do not hesitate to use violence during these cross-pavement attacks and the risk of injuring innocent bystanders is of concern.” The groups conducting such attacks are normally heavily armed and strong in numbers. Earlier this year, two bystanders were shot at random by assailants conducting a CIT heist. In another incident, SAPS shot and killed 10 members of a CIT heist group in Sebokeng.’