Dawn Park CIT Heist Turns Deadly: Two Innocent Lives Lost Amid Gunfire

Chaos on Barry Marais Road

What started as an ordinary Monday morning on Barry Marais Road in Dawn Park, Gauteng, ended in tragedy when a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery spiraled into deadly violence. Two bystanders were killed in the crossfire, while five passengers in a taxi sustained injuries after the cash van was forced off the road.

Police say the heist unfolded when a silver Mercedes-Benz rammed into a cash delivery vehicle, causing it to overturn onto a Toyota Quantum taxi carrying seven people. The robbers, around eight in total, then bombed the armored van before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money.

Gunfire erupted between the security guards and the attackers, leaving the streets strewn with bullet casings, smoke, and fear.

A Community Shaken

For residents of Dawn Park, the incident felt all too familiar. Gauteng has become a hotbed for CIT robberies, with criminals often striking in broad daylight and using military-style tactics. On social media, locals voiced anger and frustration.

“Every week it’s another heist, another life lost. When will it stop?” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another wrote: “The robbers don’t care who gets caught in the crossfire, our people are paying with their lives.”

Many echoed police warnings to avoid rushing to crime scenes, especially when notes from blown-up vans scatter into the streets. “Don’t pick up that money,” a community group urged on Facebook, “it’s not worth your life.”

A Grim Warning from Police

Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, appealed to the public to stay away from CIT crime scenes and avoid the temptation to grab loose cash.

“The community should remain vigilant of their surroundings at all times and report any criminal activities on the SAPS Crime Stop Line at 08600 10111,” she said.

The advice might sound simple, but in communities hit hard by poverty and unemployment, the sight of money scattered on the ground has previously drawn crowdssometimes with deadly consequences.

Not an Isolated Incident

This is not the first time a CIT heist has rocked South Africa in 2025. Earlier this year in Mbombela, a cash van came under attack by multiple vehicles on the N4 highway near Kanyamazane. That attempted robbery ended without loss of life, thanks to quick thinking by the security guards, who swerved into oncoming traffic to escape.

But in Dawn Park, the robbers succeeded. Two lives were stolen, families were left grieving, and once again, the country is reminded of the brazen violence that comes with CIT attacks.

South Africa records dozens of CIT robberies every year, often carried out by highly organized syndicates. These criminals use luxury vehicles, explosives, and heavy firepower, making them a match even for trained security personnel.

What’s striking is how ordinary citizens keep getting caught in the middle. A trip to work, a taxi ride, or a walk down the road can suddenly become deadly. As frustration grows, many South Africans are asking the same question: If our streets are warzones during these heists, who is keeping us safe?

The Dawn Park tragedy is not just another statistic, it’s a harsh reminder of the human cost behind South Africa’s crime headlines. While police investigations continue, the families mourning tonight will want more than promises: they’ll want justice and safer streets.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com