Seven suspects allegedly linked to a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Witbank are expected to appear before the Witbank Magistrate’s Court after forensic ballistic testing linked one of five recovered AK-47 assault rifles to the violent heist.
The suspects, aged between 31 and 52, were arrested by the Hawks following investigations that connected them to a cash-in-transit robbery that took place along Verena Road in Witbank on June 2, 2025.
The breakthrough follows an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Tactical Response Team (TRT) in Vosman, Witbank, in December 2025, during which five AK-47 rifles and explosives were recovered. Ballistic testing later confirmed that one of the firearms had been used in the robbery.
“Ballistic analysis confirmed that one of the recovered AK-47 assault rifles was positively linked to a cash-in-transit robbery that occurred on June 2, 2025, along Verena Road in Witbank,” Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said.
According to investigators from the Hawks’ Middelburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, a G4S cash-in-transit vehicle was transporting money to its Witbank base when it was ambushed by heavily armed suspects at about 6pm.
“At approximately 6pm, a G4S cash-in-transit vehicle transporting cash to the G4S base in Witbank was ambushed by heavily armed suspects. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the armoured vehicle until it was forced to a stop,” Nkosi said.
“The crew members were ordered out of the vehicle before explosives were allegedly used to blast open the safe. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen, and the driver was robbed of his service pistol.”
The Hawks said the suspects fled the scene after the escort vehicle was rammed by a stolen white Volkswagen Polo sedan.
The seven accused, who come from Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, had previously appeared in court on charges relating to the possession of prohibited firearms and explosives.
“Their alleged involvement in the cash-in-transit robbery will now be added to the existing case in which they are already facing charges relating to the possession of prohibited firearms and explosives,” Nkosi said.
The matter was postponed to September 16, 2026, when the suspects are expected to make their first appearance on additional charges including cash-in-transit robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted murder, possession of prohibited firearms and possession of explosives.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and the possibility of additional arrests and charges cannot be ruled out,” Nkosi said.
Hawks Mpumalanga provincial head Major General Nico Gerber commended the Tactical Response Team and other law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.
“This breakthrough once again demonstrates the value of intelligence-driven policing and effective collaboration among law enforcement agencies in dismantling violent organised criminal networks responsible for cash-in-transit robberies,” said Gerber.
