MPUMALANGA — The Tonga Magistrates’ Court granted bail to three police officers and three co-accused on Tuesday, 3 October 2023. They were arrested in connection with a cash-in-transit heist, that took place on 11 August 2023, on the R570 road towards Schoemansdal, outside Malelane in Mpumalanga. Another accused, a Tanzanian national abandoned his bail application.
The court found that there are exceptional circumstances which permit the accused to be released on bail. The six accused were granted bail of R5000 each, on the following conditions:
The accused shall attend the court until the matter is finalised, they shall not interfere with State witnesses.
The court further ordered that the accused report to the nearest police station every Friday, between 06:00 and 18:00.
The accused, Bhekifa Ngwenyama (30), Ali Ebrahim (24), Lawrence Lubisi (44) and Moosa Vilakazi (38), were charged together with the three police officers; Sunday Mashego (39), Collen Nonyane (44) and Bhekinkosi Godi (39), all attached to the White River Flying Squad. They are charged with five counts of attempted murder, three counts of possession of stolen property, possession of firearms and ammunition, malicious damage to property, possession of explosives as well as conspiracy to commit crime.
It is alleged that a group of unknown men ambushed a Fidelity armoured vehicle, with a Mercedes Benz C-class. The suspects rammed the cash van, which overturned.
The security guards were reportedly forced out of the vehicle and high-calibre rifles were used on the scene, where one security officer was disarmed. The cash van was then bombed.
Three suspects were arrested on the same day, while the other accused were arrested a few days after the incident.
The investigation is ongoing and the team is pursuing the two wanted accused, Zola Martin Minisi (29) and Mpendulo Absima Hassane (31) who are sought by the Hawks after they were linked to the crimes.
During the investigation, it was established that Mnisi was further linked to a cash-in-transit heist and murder of a Fidelity security guard (Kabokweni case), another cash-in-transit heist and murder of a G4S security guard (White River case).
The matter was postponed to 06 December 2023, for further investigation and the suspects will appear before the Malelane Periodical Court.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Gerber applauded the investigating officer together with the prosecution team, who stood their ground when testifying during the bail hearing at court for almost 14 days. “Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mnisi and Hassane are urged to contact the investigating officers, Lieutenant Colonel Erhard Stroh on 082 300 8315 and Warrant Officer Albert De Lange on 071 481 2815,” General concluded.
