A South African police officer walks past a forensic office at a crime scene after a botched cash-in-transit attack in Rosettenville, on the outskirts of Johannesburg, on February 21, 2022, resulting in two South African police officers being airlifted with chest wounds. – South Africa’s already alarming number of murders and rapes kept increasing at the end of 2021, the police minister announced February 18, 2022. From October to December, the country suffered an average of 74 murders and 122 reported rapes every day, Police Minister Bheki Cele told a news conference. (Photo by GUILLEM SARTORIO / AFP)
Rosettenville suspects named: Case postponed to verify addresses, status of migrants
The Hawks said the Rosettenville suspects’ case has been postponed for verification of addresses and to confirm the legality of the identified foreigners.
A South African police officer walks past a forensic office at a crime scene after a botched cash-in-transit attack in Rosettenville, on the outskirts of Johannesburg, on February 21, 2022, resulting in two South African police officers being airlifted with chest wounds. – South Africa’s already alarming number of murders and rapes kept increasing at the end of 2021, the police minister announced February 18, 2022. From October to December, the country suffered an average of 74 murders and 122 reported rapes every day, Police Minister Bheki Cele told a news conference. (Photo by GUILLEM SARTORIO / AFP)
Ten of the suspects allegedly involved in the Rosettenville shooting appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 23 February.
ROSETTENVILLE SUSPECTS CHARGED
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said the 10 suspects were part of a gang of at least 25 alleged cash-in-transit robbers that were cornered at a safe house by a Crime Intelligence-led operation in Rosettenville, Johannesburg on Monday.
The suspects face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of explosives, possession of hijacked vehicles and conspiracy to commit a cash-in-transit heist.
Six of the suspects were identified as South African: Sihle Mazibuko, 35, Qaphela, Ngubeni, 33, Menzi Shabalala, 47, Hloniphani Dube, 40, Mike Ngwadi, 47 and Kitso Mnguni, 45.
The remaining suspects are believed to be from Zimbabwe: Alex Matshebele, 40, Phendula Mvubu, 44, Andrew Tshobolo, 67, and Khulekani Nkosi,36.
“The case has been postponed to 3 March 2022 for verification of addresses as well as legality confirmation by identified foreign nationals,” said the Hawks spokesperson.
Eight suspects were shot and killed by the police at the scene in Rosettenville and seven more are still at large.
Four police officers and a member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) were wounded in the shootout but they are on the road to recovery.
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