Police Minister Bheki Cele on Tuesday announced that over 230 suspects have been arrested in connection with cash-in-transit heists between April and November 2018.
Cele, flanked by South African Police Service (SAPS) top brass, briefed the media in Pretoria on progress made with regards to the heists.
He revealed that 118 cash-in-transit heists had taken place between April and November, a figure down from the 184 recorded last year between the same period.
This registers a difference of 37% decrease. However, during the latter period we have [had] a significantly higher number of culprits being arrested
“To date, arrests and seizures [sit at]; 237 arrested, 92 vehicles recovered, 78 firearms recovered and a substantial amount of money recovered, ” he said.
He said a significant amount of the arrests happened in Gauteng and North West, with over 30 suspects being nabbed in Midrand, Katlegong, Brits and Mahikeng in the past six weeks
Minister of @SAPoliceService Bheki Cele and National Commisioner General Khehla Sitole will tomorrow brief the media on the recent arrests related to #CIT robberies. #heists pic.twitter.com/OnpnxpmXxv
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) November 6, 2018
Cele: between 1 April and 4 November 2018, 118 #CITHeists have been recorded compared to the 184 recorded in the same period last year. This equates to a 36% decrease. @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/0HqsJIIwRv
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) November 6, 2018
Among those arrested was a high ranking police officer in Brits while two vehicles were recovered, including a BMW belonging to the SAPS member.
“The BMW contained a set of police uniform, reflector jackets and one handgun with a serial number,” he said.
Cele attributed the successes made in catching suspects to the 72 hour response time, which he praised as having led to the quick arrests of suspects in the brazen ‘hit’ on Cape Town advocate Pete Mihalik and Vlakfontein murders.
Other issues Cele tackled included progress made in political killings in KwaZulu-Natal as well as SAPS’ festive season strategy.
Source: eNCA
