Gunmen blast armoured vehicle near Kamhlushwa
Law enforcement authorities in Mpumalanga have launched a manhunt for a group of heavily armed suspects who attacked a G4S armoured vehicle on Wednesday morning, making off with an undisclosed sum of money in a daring daylight robbery.
The incident unfolded at approximately 10:20 when the cash-in-transit vehicle was travelling from Schoemansdal towards Kamhlushwa. Security personnel on board became aware of two vehicles — a silver BMW sedan and a gold Volkswagen Amarok bakkie — rapidly closing in from behind.
According to police, the occupants of the BMW pulled alongside the armoured vehicle and compelled the driver to stop at gunpoint. The security crew then observed additional vehicles, including a black BMW, being used to blockade the road ahead. A number of men wielding rifles were stationed at the roadblock.
"The G4S vehicle came to a standstill where after the guards were forced out and disarmed. The suspects then blasted the vehicle before fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash."
The guards were overpowered, stripped of their weapons, and forced from the vehicle. The attackers then used explosives to breach the armoured van before escaping with the cash. No injuries were reported, and investigators are working to establish the exact amount stolen.
Second heist at Zwelisha days earlier
The brazen attack follows a strikingly similar robbery that took place at Zwelisha on Tuesday morning, 09 April 2018, at roughly 06:00. In that incident, two Fidelity Security vehicles were en route to pension pay points at Zwelisha and Luphisa when crew members noticed a white Toyota bakkie tailing them.
The security teams attempted to shake off the pursuing vehicle, but one of the armoured vans was cornered at Zwelisha. The suspects in the bakkie were then joined by accomplices travelling in a white BMW. The gang blasted open the security van and fled with an undisclosed quantity of cash. Police are still searching for those responsible.
"They reportedly tried to evade the suspected bakkie but one of the security vehicles was cornered at Zwelisha, where the suspects in the bakkie were joined by their accomplices who were driving in a white BMW."
The two incidents, occurring within days of each other in the same province, have raised serious concerns about the escalating threat facing cash-in-transit operations in the region. Authorities have urged anyone with information about either heist to come forward and assist with investigations.
Cash-in-transit heists in Mpumalanga signal growing risks for the security industry and rural communities dependent on cash-based economies, particularly pensioners relying on physical pay points. These attacks threaten jobs in the private security sector, increase operational costs for cash logistics firms, and could disrupt essential financial services in underserved areas. If the trend continues, businesses and authorities may need to accelerate the shift toward digital payment solutions across vulnerable provinces.
