Gauteng SAPS: Hijackers with c

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Gauteng SAPS: Hijackers with cash-in-transit explosives still on the loose

Gauteng police are racing against the clock to recover the explosives that were loaded in a van that was hijacked in West Rand last week.

Gauteng SAPS: Hijackers with c

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Gauteng police are seeking the assistance of the public in locating a stolen van that was loaded with explosives and other industrial equipment.

Where in Gauteng was the van hijacked?

According to police spokesperson, Constable Lucky Matome, a van carrying cargo that would pose a major threat to society, if placed in the wrong hands, was hijacked in West Rand, Gauteng.

In a recently published statement, Matome revealed that on Wednesday, 14 August, at approximately 09:30, three vehicles — two Volkswagen Polos and a Nissan NP300 — forced the van to a halt on the N12 highway, near Zuurbekom.

“During the ordeal, victims were robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and cellphones and they were dropped off at an unknown location, unharmed. The suspects fled with the victim’s vehicle that was loaded with [a] Troxler Mechanic Nuclear Device and other industrial equipment,” Matome explained.

The police spokesperson further revealed that the explosives that were loaded on the truck are often used by criminals in ATM and cash-in-transit bombings.

The leads police are currently working with

So far, the Gauteng police are at a loss with where to start looking for the van, identified as a white Isuzu KB250 with DS80FMGP registration plates. Eye witness testimony from the survivors of the robbery has not yielded any leads that have brought investigators closer to finding the van or its explosives.

As the search for the suspects continues, Gauteng police fear that at any time, the explosives could be used in an ATM or cash-in-transit robbery.

“Although SAPS is constitutionally mandated to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, for the police to realize the vision to create a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa we need everyone to participate by working together with the police, providing credible information that can assist in bringing the perpetrators to book,” Matome said.

Police make a plea to the public

District Commissioner of West Rand, Major General Kekana has called on the community to step forward and assist police in identifying the suspects and locating the explosives while it is still early.

“SAPS alone cannot address this challenge, thus collaboration is key, and we commit to mobilize all sectors of the community to take an active role in their safety.

“Community members are urged to contact the police immediately and the community is further urged not to attempt to touch these explosives as they are harmful. Furthermore not to confront the suspects as the safety of our community is our priority,” Kekana stated