A total of 58 cash-in-transit (CIT) incidents were recorded by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) during the second quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year compared to 55 cases reported during the first quarter.
Fifteen suspects were killed during violent confrontations with police.
Hawks head Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya briefed the media on Sunday on their successes, with a total of 818 suspects arrested during the second quarter.
“The DPCI has made significant inroads in apprehending individuals involved in high profile cases, thus ensuring accountability and justice for the victims. These arrests targeted people (including those) involved in serious organised crime, serious commercial crime as well as fraud, police killings, cash-in transit robberies, drug trafficking, damage to essential and infrastructure.
“Of the 818 suspects, the Serious Organised Crime Investigation secured 489, the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation secured 209 while the Serious Corruption Investigation secured 120 suspects,” said Lebeya.
The Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) ensured the freezing of 75 and forfeiture orders of more than R72 million.
About R8 million was deposited into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA). Lebeya said it was comforting that in the CIT related cases no one was granted bail.
“A total number of 49 suspects including 15 who died in exchange of gunfire with the police were arrested.
Over and above, 66 suspects were arrested in CIT related cases, making a combined number of 115 arrests for CIT and related crime.
“Forty-three convictions were secured on CIT and related cases. Of these convicts, six have been sentenced to life imprisonment and a combined period of 931 years imprisonment,” said Lebeya.
Among the cases cited was the 545 years’ collective imprisonment sentence handed down to five suspects involved in a robbery at a Worcester store.
“They forced the staff to open the safe and robbed some cash at gunpoint. Subsequently, the same suspects forced the guards of Fidelity Cash Solution to open the armoured vehicle but they were unsuccessful. In the process, they managed to disarm the crew of his service pistol and fled the scene in a minibus. When cornered by the police, they exchanged gunfire, which resulted in three suspects being wounded and two arrested,” said Lebeya.
Two AK-47 rifles, an Uzzi rifle, cash and two pistols were recovered.
In July this year, Phikolomzi Mpafa, Wiseman Tshelana, Bongani Ngubo, Phello Monyake and Eliah Mpiti were charged and convicted in the Worcester Regional Court.
Lebeya also highlighted that the Hawks welcomed 240 entry-level police constables who recently graduated from various police academies across the country and 51 new vehicles, with 20 more specialised vehicles enroute.
“These members are graduates in various fields including legal degrees.
They have been placed in various units within the DPCI to strengthen the efforts of combatting national priority offences.”
Cape Times