GAUTENG – The North Gauteng High Court sentenced four accused to an effective 30-year jail term for cash-in-transit robbery today, 21 July 2022.

On 7 January 2020, the SBV armoured vehicle was traveling on the N4 highway to Bronkhorstspruit when a vehicle with a group of armed men rammed onto the cash van, veering it off the road. The gunmen forced the security guards out of the vehicle and robbed them of their service firearms. They placed explosives onto the vehicle and detonated it. They took the cash and fled the scene.

The case was reported to the Bronkhorstspruit police which prompted an investigation by the Germiston based Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation who worked exhaustively to solve the case. The investigation led to the arrest of Henrico Fourie (39), Josiah Lucas Maseko (48), Morris Fanie Mbuyani (30) and Lazarus Ntlatleng (28).

The accused were taken to court facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, contravention of the Explosives Act, conspiracy to commit a crime, illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of ammunition. They were found guilty on all the charges.

The court sentenced the accused to 25 years for robbery, 10 years for contravention of the Explosives Act, five years for conspiracy to commit crime, 15 years for illegal possession of firearms and five years for illegal possession of ammunition.

The sentence for explosives, firearms and ammunition will run concurrently.

Source: South African Police Service