Cash-in-transit robberies: a growing danger for South African bystanders
The Cash-In-Transit Association in South Africa (Citasa) has expressed concern regarding the safety of innocent bystanders and motorists at cash-in-transit (CIT) crime scenes, as seen in the N2 incident in Durban on Tuesday morning.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said provincial police are searching for an unknown number of suspects following a CIT robbery on the N2 southbound.
“It is reported that the suspects accosted a cash-in-transit vehicle, assaulted two security guards, and robbed them of their firearms before stealing an undisclosed amount of money. During the robbery, the suspects fired several shots and three bystanders were reportedly shot and injured,” Netshiunda said.
“The suspects fled the scene through the Bayview area and on Silverglen Drive, they shot and injured a private security guard who gave chase. The suspects allegedly shot towards a minibus taxi which they reportedly attempted to hijack. A woman was shot and died, and another woman, who was walking along the road was also shot and injured.”
ALS Paramedics Medical Services spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said paramedics quickly assessed the scene and found several people were injured. Immediately a triage system was set up and more ambulances and advanced life support paramedics were dispatched to assist with the multiple casualty scene.
“On the actual scene, paramedics treated three security officers for various injuries,” Jamieson said.
“On the same scene approximately 500 metres from the scene, three occupants from a bus travelling to work had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
“The next location of the same incident was on the M1 Higginson Highway by the N2 Bridge, where two people had sustained gunshot wounds,” Jamieson continued.
“The third location occurred on Silverglen Drive in Chatsworth where paramedics found that multiple people had been shot. Two females believed to be in their 30s and a security officer had sustained gunshot and assault wounds.
“Unfortunately, one female believed to be in her 30s had sustained fatal gunshot wounds and there was nothing more paramedics could do for her and she was declared deceased on the scene.”
All patients were stabilised before being taken to the hospital.
Citasa incident and analytics manager, Dr Alice Maree, said CIT employees are trained regarding CIT robberies.
“What is of concern is the safety of innocent bystanders and motorists at CIT crime scenes. A total of three bystanders were killed, and 13 were injured in 2024,” Maree said.
Zooming in on 2024, Maree said more than 200 CIT robberies were recorded last year.
“KwaZulu-Natal was the highest risk province with 27% of the robberies in 2024, followed by Gauteng (25%), Eastern Cape (21%), Mpumalanga (8%), Western Cape and North West (6% respectively), Free State (5%), and Limpopo (2%),” Maree said.
She said CIT robberies in South Africa is a weekly occurrence, but sometimes a daily activity.
“Although the high-risk days for CIT robberies in South Africa are Mondays, it can happen any day of the week. CIT robberies increased by 24% when comparing December 2024 with December 2023,” Maree explained.
Looking at the modus operandi of CIT robberies, Maree explained that perpetrators either shoot at the armoured vehicle (AV) to bring it to a standstill or ram it with another vehicle. Once the AV comes to a halt, they force the CIT employees out and use explosives in an attempt to access the cash.
“They may use multiple detonations, increasing the risk of delayed explosions and injuries to bystanders and response teams.
“These groups can consist of up to 20 perpetrators who do not hesitate to fire high-calibre firearms and show no regard for human life. They also employ various methods to block traffic on highways and main roads, such as parking vehicles across the road or firing shots at motorists to force them to turn around.
?Random gunfire and shooting to kill are integral parts of their modus operandi. They even hijack vehicles from motorists at the crime scene.”
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za