Andile Mayisela, 36, appeared in the Port St Johns Magistrates court on Friday 22 January 2021, facing several charges that include armed robbery, murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
He was traced and arrested on the 20 January 2021 in Johannesburg after he had been on the run since October 2020. Mayisela was allegedly linked to a series of charges emanating from a cash-in-transit heist incident that happened on 19 October 2020 near Port St. Johns.
Two G4S’ armoured vehicles were accosted by two double cabs whilst in Dangwana area. The occupants of the two vehicles started shooting at the armoured vehicles until the vehicles came to a halt. They forced the security guards to lie down at gunpoint. Explosives were used to bomb the armoured vehicles and an undisclosed amount of money was taken from one vehicle, four 9mm pistols were taken from the security guards.
The Tactical Response Team (TRT) members pursued and cornered the suspects’ vehicle in Tsolo, near Mhlakulo area. A shootout between the suspects and police ensued in which Sergeant Mzoxolo Gxothani, 41, attached to the East London (TRT) sustained fatal gunshot wounds to his upper body.
Joseph Ally, 39 who sustained a gunshot wound was arrested a day after the incident and one of the vehicles and a firearm used in the commission of the crime were recovered. Further investigation led to the arrest of Bongiwe Chiyi, 29, a partner to Joseph Alley in October 2020. During her arrest an undisclosed amount of cash, a vehicle, and new furniture were seized as the proceeds of crime.
Chiyi was released on R5000-00 bail, whilst Ally remained in custody since his arrest. Mayisela is expected to appear along the two in the same court on 27 January and 12 February 2021, respectively.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya welcomed the third arrest and said “we will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the suspects that were involved in the killing of Sergeant Mzoxolo Gxothani and the robbery are brought to book”.
