Two police detectives who allegedly conspired to carry out cash-in-transit robberies appeared briefly in the Kriel Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on Friday following their arrest by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and South African Police Service (SAPS) task force members in the early hours of Friday.
Constables Tami Kubeka, 38, and Daniel Mahlangu, 30, will remain in custody pending their next appearance at the same court on September 16, Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
“The two detectives are accused of being part of a larger group conspiring to execute cash-in-transit robberies in the Mpumalanga area. Both were arrested at their homes. One of the suspects attempted to shoot his way to freedom but was quickly overpowered. The Hawks seized firearms, suspected stolen laptops, and cellphones, as well as two BMW cars, one of which was still brand new”, he said.
In August this year, the Hawks tactical operations management section (Toms) received information about a hijacked BMW. Hawks members followed the car and found it parked at a house in Kriel.
“Before they could enter the yard, members were greeted with a hail of bullets and a shoot-out ensured. With [the] special task force, national investigative unit, organised crime, Gauteng flying squad, [and] the local police coming as backup, the suspects were overwhelmed.”
One Hawks member was shot in the shoulder, one suspect was fatally wounded, and two suspects were critically wounded at the time. One of the wounded suspects died on Friday after succumbing to his wounds. During a search at the house police confiscated South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and private security bullet proof vests, commercial explosives, rifles, and stolen vehicles, Mulaudzi said.
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