A group of men who were arrested during a botched cash-in-transit heist appeared in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division on Friday, after their case was moved from the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court. Sihle Mazibuko, 35, Qaphela Ngubeni, 33, Menzi Shabalala, 47, Hloniphani Dube, 40, Alex Matshebele, 40, Phendula Mvubu, 44, Mike Ngwadi, 47, Andrew Tshobolo, 67, Khulekani Nkosi, 36, 45-year-old Kitso Mnguni and 15 other men were stopped in their tracks by police while en route to commit the crime exactly a year ago. Most of the suspects are Zimbabwean and Botswana nationals.

CHARGES

 They will stand trial on eight counts of murder, a count of attempted murder, six counts of possession of a prohibited firearm, 12 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, five counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and a count of theft. Eight other suspects died in the shootout with police.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT 

The NPA's Phindi Mjonondwane told ZiMoja that the accused were arrested at a safe house in Rosettenville, outside Johannesburg where they gathered to plan to rob a cash-in-transit vehicle that was transporting money from Mondeor to Krugersdorp. "The accused and their co-perpetrators were in possession of several high-powered vehicles and high-velocity fully automatic firearms, as well as explosives that were to be used to blast open the vehicle. Members of the SAPS were alerted about the planned robbery and together with a multi-disciplinary team, including a helicopter, circled the area around the safe house. A shootout ensued between the accused and the members of the SAPS, resulting in eight co-perpetrators being fatally shot by the police." Mjonondwane said the matter had to be postponed to two separate dates in March because four of the accused did not have legal representatives.

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