Public scour Tsolo money truck heist scene for cash

A man was injured as an armoured truck exploded during a cash-in-transit heist near Tsolo on Wednesday morning.

Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said the incident took place at about 11am along the R396 route just outside Tsolo.

“An armoured vehicle was shot at and it exploded while travelling on the route,” she said.

“One of the crew members sustained injuries. A firearm was stolen during the incident.”

Mgolodela said it had not yet been established if the armed robbers had been travelling in cars or were on foot.

It was also not yet known how much money had been taken or how many robbers were involved.

She confirmed the money-laden vehicle belonged to G4S.

Meanwhile, a photo believed to have been taken by a passing motorist has gone viral.

It shows people living near the route swarming the scene and scavenging the area for any cash that might have come from the vehicle.

Mgolodela warned that it was illegal to take money from a crime scene and those who did so could find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

“It is not advisable to pick up money from those situations as the bank notes could be tainted with paint.

“Some people might try using the money to buy something and end up in trouble with the law as they could find themselves being treated as suspects in the case,” she said.

Mhlontlo mayor Mbulelo Jara said the sight of ordinary citizens looting money at a crime scene was highly disturbing.

Attempts to contact G4S for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication.