OFM News reports that more pertinent details regarding the foiled heist, including the multiple crime scenes identified along the OR Tambo Road, will come to light in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court as the group makes their first court appearance and attempt to apply for bail.
A sixth member of the apprehended group died from a gunshot wound to the head sustained in a shootout with local police.
According to national police spokesperson, Brenda Muridili, the suspect in question died at a local hospital. OFM News reported on Friday, that Bloemfontein residents awoke to gunshots and burned vehicles following the attempted heist.
Muridili says at around 05:30, a multidisciplinary team was on standby following a tip-off of a heist along the OR Tambo Road, when they observed an unknown vehicle deliberately crash into a G4S escort vehicle at a busy intersection.
Not only did the first group of suspect’s vehicle erupt in flames from the impact of the intended crash, but a shootout between police and the suspects ensued. Not too far from the vehicle was the G4S cash van, which was headed in the direction of the N6 road.
That van was brought to a halt and blast open using explosives by a second group of assailants. This second team was cornered by police in their getaway vehicle next to South Park cemetery.
They abandoned the vehicle, which still had money inside, and fled on foot. It is then that the deceased was shot allegedly by a police official, and was taken to hospital for medical attention, where he died. A G4S security guard was also injured during the shootout.
The MEC of Police, Roads, and Transport, Sam Mashinini, was at the scene of the crime and briefly observed investigations.
This swift response from authorities comes on the back of a number of unsolved heists occurring in the Bloemfontein area in the latter half of 2019.
On 4 July 2019, the Hawks in the Free State launched a manhunt for at least ten suspects alleged to have opened gunfire on a cash-in-transit van at around 06:30 am that day.
Hawks spokesperson Lynda Steyn said at the time no money was taken, nor were there any casualties. Bullet shells were found strewn across the crime scene which stretched quite a distance on the R702 road.
Over a month later, about ten gunmen – again armed with assault rifles – blew up a cash-in-transit van travelling on the N8 road near the Bram Fischer Airport outside Bloemfontein.
The gunmen, who were travelling in a double-cab bakkie and a sedan, also shot at a police helicopter flying past the area. It is unknown how much money they made away with.
