Guard killed in yet another bloody CIT robbery

A security guard was shot and killed during a cash-in-transit robbery at Duthuni village on Tuesday, 2 August. This incident follows three weeks after the tragic murder of the Collins Chabane mayor, Moses Maluleke, at his home in Shikundu, in what is also believed to have been a robbery. The village of Duthuni is home to the two suspects who were arrested in connection with Maluleke’s death.

According to police spokesperson, Lt Col Robert Netshiunda, cash-in-transit security guards were doing their daily routine when they realised that they were being followed by a White Ford Ranger double cab. This was in the area of the Lutavhe Dam and the Vodacom Spaza Shop. “It is alleged that the seven suspects, four armed with pistols and three carrying rifles, started shooting at the cash truck. The driver of the cash truck stopped and ran for his life. He was allegedly shot on the arm. The other security guard managed to escape, but the third crew member was shot [in] the face and was declared dead at the scene,” Netshiunda said.

The suspects reportedly failed to open the safe and only managed to get away with one bag containing an undisclosed amount of money. When the police arrived at the scene, they found 51 sealed bags still intact. Two firearms belonging to the security officers were also stolen. The police have opened charges of murder, attempted murder, cash-in-transit robbery and possession of firearms.

Eyewitnesses said they had heard gunshots echoing over the mountains and rushed to the scene. “It sounded like a scene from a Wild West movie, so we rushed to where it came from. It was very scary. One of the security guards was lying dead on the ground,” said a resident who did not want to be identified. “We have never experienced something like it in our village before. We are terrified, as it seems that criminals have found a home in our village. We implore the police to search and identify criminals staying in our village.”

Retired SAPS crime prevention head Col George Ramaremisa, who is also a resident of Duthuni, described the incident as the worst he had ever seen in his area and called on the community to assist the police in tracing the robbers. He reminded residents that, just because the incident happened at Duthuni, this did not necessarily mean that the perpetrators were from Duthuni.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects is urged to contact the nearest police station, the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111, or through the MySAPS App.

News - Date: 12 August 2022

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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