The suspects were arrested in two separate incidents, which were a collaboration between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD). They managed to successfully recover over R1.5 million of the stolen cash.
In the first incident, a security guard working for a cash delivery security company is alleged to have disappeared with a large amount of cash that was collected at a certain bank on 30 April 2018.
The company reported the alleged theft at the Hillbrow Police Station and the case was transferred to the Provincial Investigating Unit (PIU) for investigation.
The investigation team worked around the clock to trace the suspects and last week Thursday, they arrested a man in Doornfontein, Johannesburg.
The team then proceeded to Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, where they recovered over R200 000 as well as American dollars estimated at R500,000, which were also part of the stolen cash.
A suspect was arrested and appeared at the Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court on Monday facing a charge of theft of money. He was remanded in custody until his next appearance on 29 May.
In another incident, two employees of another cash delivery security company, the driver - Clement Matjoji and crew member - Mbangiseni Rapholo, are alleged to have collected cash from various clients on 7 May 2018.
The duo then went back to the depot without the collected money. The company then opened a case of theft of money estimated at R4.6 million at the Germiston Police Station.
This case was also transferred to PIU for investigation, which saw both Matjoji and Rapholo arrested for theft of money.
They have already appeared at the Germiston Magistrates’ Court and their case was remanded.
The investigating team also arrested two suspects at a house in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni, and recovered approximately R1.5 million on Tuesday.
The house belongs to a relative of Rapholo’s brother. He and another family member were arrested on a charge of possession of suspected stolen money. The duo will appear in the Germiston Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Sitole has welcomed the arrests. “The collaboration of our resources in order to fight against this scourge of bank related crimes that threaten the economic viability of this country is yielding results.”
The National Commissioner said such collaboration will go a long way in ensuring that police “stamp the authority of the State in order to make sure that the citizens of South Africa are and feel safe”.
Sitole commended the level of investigative work that led to the arrests.
