Cele visit delayed platinum van hijack

A VISIT to Port Elizabeth by then national police commissioner Bheki Cele in October forced the temporary abandonment of carefully laid plans to hijack a security van transporting millions of rands’ worth of platinum.

Cele’s visit to the city, and the consequent high police visibility, forced the alleged robbers to delay their plans, according to court documents.

But when the heist finally took place on November 8, undercover police agents were waiting in the Brinks SA security van.

Brinks SA transports precious metals like platinum.

A shootout ensued, and six people, including five alleged members of the armed gang, were killed. Seven men were ultimately arrested.

Security was tight at the Port Elizabeth Regional Court yesterday where the accused, all still in custody, appeared.

Unathi Wana, 33, from Kwazakhele, Lonwabo Nethi, 28, from KwaDwesi, Mongesi Tsume, 37, Madoda Nube, 38, Luyanda Njokweni, 37, Xolani Nanto, 37, all from New Brighton, and Vuyile Ngcangisa, 50, address unknown, face six counts of murder, three of attempted murder, conspiracy, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, and three counts of theft.

Four of the suspects had hoped to apply for bail yesterday. However, the hearing was stalled when counsel for one of the accused asked the presiding officer to recuse herself.

Nube and Njokweni have already had their bail applications turned down by magistrate Abigail Beeton. Nethi’s defence advocate, Johan Wessels, said there might accordingly be an element of bias when dealing with Nethi.

He said Nethi had been implicated in the heist during the bail applications of Nube and Njokweni and Beeton’s judgment could be clouded. After a lengthy adjournment, Beeton turned

down Wessels’s application.

Wessels then asked the court to hear the remaining bail applications separately.

“The alleged confession my client has made implicates some of his co-accused. This may be prejudicial to them,” he said.

However, Beeton said the bail applications would be heard in consolidation on October 5 and no further delays would be accepted.

According to the documents before court, in about October last year, the Director of Public Prosecutions gave approval for an undercover police agent to be placed within Brinks SA as an employee.

The agent’s job was to act as the driver of the security vehicle.

“The agent was indeed approached by members of the syndicate to divulge confidential information about the date, time and route the security vehicle would take when transporting the platinum.

“Members of the syndicate planned to rob the van,” the state alleges.

“On October 11, the plan was abandoned as [Cele] was visiting . . . the area.

“Later, and after being asked by the syndicate, the police agent informed them that a consignment of platinum would be transported on November 8. The route and manner in which the robbery was to be executed was discussed with the agent. He would be the driver.”

Another policeman was then placed as a passenger in the vehicle and others were stationed in Stephenson Road, Deal Party, where the robbery was expected to take place. A shootout occurred and five suspects and a bystander were killed.

Wana, Tsume and Nethi were arrested on the scene. Their co-accused were arrested in the weeks that followed.