EASTERN CAPE – The Provincial Cash-In-Transit (CIT) Task Team of the Hawks in a joint operation with Mthatha Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), Mthatha Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Tambo District police arrested a couple for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition on 25 and 26 February 2023.

The joint team acted on information received about Siviwe Mgijima (35), working for Section One Security company in Mthatha, possessing unlicensed firearms on 25 February 2023. The team visited the security guard at his workplace in Mthatha.

Preliminary investigation led to search of the premises in Fortgale where a R5 rifle with 45 rounds of ammunition was allegedly found underneath the bed. The team further went to Mgijima’s rental room in Ngangelizwe Township where a 9mm pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition was found. On 26 February 2023, the team proceeded to Marekana informal settlement in Kokstad where they recovered another 9mm pistol with eight rounds of ammunition in Mgijima’s shack. This brings to a total of three (3) firearms and 68 rounds of ammunition seized. A white Toyota Fortuner which belongs to Kusasa which was allegedly used in the commission of cash-in-transit incidents in the area was seized.

Mgijima and his partner, Babalwa Kusasa (42) were arrested and they appeared in Mthatha Regional Court on 27 February 2023. Kusasa, a nurse by profession was released on R1000-00 bail while Mgijima was remanded in custody. The case against the duo was postponed to 03 March 2023 for Mgijima’s formal bail application.

The Acting Provincial Head, Brigadier Vanessa Hastings commended the team in its determination to uproot criminal activities within the province.

Source: South African Police Service