Two police officers, Constable Zachariah Magopa and Sergeant George Phaahla, both aged 41, have been remanded in custody by the Vaalbank Magistrate's Court after they were arrested for a cash-in-transit robbery.
Mpumalanga spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said the duo appeared in court on Wednesday.
“Their appearance follows after they were arrested by a team comprising of Middelburg-based serious organised crime investigation, crime intelligence covert section, Mpumalanga and Ekangala flying squad on a J50 warrant of arrest respectively,” said Sekgotodi.
“It was reported that on February 1, 2021, a G4S armoured vehicle was attacked by an unknown number of African males at Senotlelo area.”
Sekgotodi said the robbers stole R5.8 million from the security company’s vehicle.
The case docket was referred to Middelburg-based serious organised crime investigation unit for further investigations.
During the investigations, two police officers from Vaalbank police station were identified for alleged involvement in the cash heist.
Sekgotodi said the investigation also unraveled that Sergeant Phaahla had used a SA Police Service (SAPS) vehicle to collect firearms at KwaMhlanga, and he gave the weapons to Constable Magopa.
“These firearms were used to attack the G4S armoured vehicle, and both police officers were arrested. Both made confessions. Vehicles used to commit the crimes were recovered, and two further vehicles were recovered,” said Sekgotodi.
“During the investigation, an undisclosed amount of cash was seized from Constable Magopa. Both police officials appeared before Vaalbank Magistrate's Court on February 11, 2021.”
The third suspect, Bongumusa Jele, was arrested at Kanyamazane and placed on the court roll together with the other accused men.
Sekgotodi said the case appeared several times before the Vaalbank Magistrate’s Court until August 25, 2021, when the matter was struck off the roll due to outstanding forensics reports.
However, investigations continued, and all outstanding matters together with forensics reports were obtained.
The docket was referred to the public prosecutor resulting in the suspects being re-arrested and the docket placed back on the court roll.
Sekgotodi said this month, former constable Magopa was arrested on Tuesday at Siyabuswa, and detained at Vaalbank police holding cells.
On Wednesday, Sergeant Phaahla was arrested and both suspects appeared before the Vaalbank Magistrate’s Court.
The matter was postponed to February 27, pending the addition of an outstanding suspect who is detained at Witbank Prison for another cash-in-transit robbery case.
IOL