rosettenville

A bullet riddled vehicle is stationed in the middle of the street, part of the 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: CIT ‘mastermind’ and two policemen among suspects

The police finally arrested a man from Botswana, in Rosettenville, who is allegedly known as the mastermind behind a string of cash-in-transit heists.

rosettenville

A bullet riddled vehicle is stationed in the middle of the street, part of the 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)

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) said an alleged cash-in-transit mastermind was finally arrested in Rosettenville, Johannesburg on Monday after a deadly shootout.

CIT MASTERMIND NABBED IN ROSETTENVILLE

IPID spokesperson Grace Langa said eight suspects were killed in the shootout and two more were critically injured.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) also suffered a casualty when one of the five officers wounded in the fight died.

“The bodies of the deceased are scattered all over. We found some in people’s houses, in the yards. Some were outside, some were at the gate,” said Langa.

Ten suspects were arrested at the scene, including a man from Botswana who is said to be a cash-in-transit mastermind.

Langa said investigators have been after the man for quite some time as he has been linked to many crimes in South Africa.

It has since emerged that two of the arrested suspects are police officers. “It is alleged two police officers are involved and are amongst criminals that are on the run,” said Langa.

Approximately 25 suspects were involved in the Rosettenville shootout with the police. On the other side, Langa said around 15 police officers from various units engaged the suspects. She said IPID is yet to interview them because “[most] are still traumatised by what happened.”

The hunt for the remaining suspects is ongoing.