Breakthrough in Mohlakeng cash-in-transit heist as four suspects are arrested

Breakthrough in Mohlakeng cash-in-transit heist as four suspects are arrested

A swift police operation has brought some relief to communities on the West Rand after four suspects were arrested in connection with the cash-in-transit (CIT) heist that shook Mohlakeng earlier this week.

The robbery took place on Wednesday, 4 February, along the R28 near Extension 11 in Mohlakeng, just before 5pm a busy time when commuters and taxis crowd the road. As with many CIT attacks, the incident unfolded quickly and violently, leaving residents shaken and motorists stranded.

Intelligence-led arrests in Kagiso

According to police, the breakthrough came less than 24 hours later. Acting on intelligence, officers launched a tactical operation in Kagiso on Thursday, where the four suspects were traced and arrested.

Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the operation resulted in the recovery of key items believed to be linked to the heist. These include two white vehicles a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota C-HR as well as two rifles, two magazines and ammunition.

The arrests were the result of a coordinated effort involving Crime Intelligence, the CIT Team, the West Rand Tactical Response Team, Police Emergency Services Flexi, and FCS specialised units a sign of how seriously authorities are treating the surge in CIT crimes.

All four suspects are expected to appear before the Randfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 6 February.

CIT attacks remain a national concern

The Mohlakeng arrests come amid renewed concern over cash-in-transit robberies across the country, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where several dramatic incidents have played out in recent days.

Earlier this week, a CIT robbery on the N2 northbound near Chesterville, outside Durban’s CBD, descended into chaos when members of the public rushed in to loot money scattered across the road. Paramedics responding to the scene described hundreds of people grabbing cash before police dispersed the crowd.

Two security guards who were inside the armoured vehicle at the time of the robbery were treated for injuries, with one sustaining minor to moderate injuries from an explosion during the attack.

Explosives recovered in KZN

In a separate incident last week, police in Inanda arrested a suspected CIT robber before an attack could take place. Officers discovered explosives and detonators hidden in a backpack in the boot of a white VW Polo during a patrol just after midnight.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court, while investigations continue.

Public reaction: relief mixed with fear

On social media, the arrests linked to the Mohlakeng heist were met with cautious relief, with many residents praising the speed of the police response. Others, however, voiced concern over how heavily armed suspects appear to be and how often ordinary roads and communities are turned into crime scenes.

For now, the West Rand arrests offer a rare piece of good news in a crime pattern that has left many South Africans anxious. Whether it signals a sustained turnaround or just a temporary win remains to be seen.