Four cash heist suspects ‘kidnapped’, shot dead

Men were being investigated by Hawks for involvement in Mthatha robberies

At least four men believed to be involved in a number of brazen cash-in-transit heists in the Mthatha CBD have been shot dead in separate incidents this month.

Some are believed to have been kidnapped before being killed as their bodies were found about 150km from where they lived.

Among them is Odwa Nolangeni, who walked into a police compound on May 11 claiming to be the owner of a double-cab bakkie which had been used as a getaway vehicle in a heist attempt the day before.

Nolangeni claimed he had been hijacked, but found himself behind bars after it emerged he was a wanted fugitive who allegedly stole a car belonging to a police officer last year.

Nolangeni, who was out on R4,000 bail, disappeared in Mthatha on Tuesday last week and his bullet-riddled body was found on Thursday.

When he went to claim the Ford Ranger on May 11, police locked him up for allegedly stealing a Volkswagen Polo Vivo from a member of the police’s provincial organised crime unit on September 9 last year.

On May 18, he was released on R4,000 bail by the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court.

The case was postponed to June 14 for further investigation.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela confirmed Nolangeni had been on their radar.

“Nolangeni was one of the people being investigated by the Hawks for possible involvement in the foiled robbery, but he had not yet been arrested and charged for the robbery case.

“He appeared in court only for the theft of the police officer’s motor vehicle,” Mgolodela said.

She said Nolangeni and the three others who had been found dead were part of a group the Hawks were investigating for possible involvement in cash-in-transit heists.

“But this is not the end of our investigation in the matter as there are others that we believe have been involved,” Mgolodela said.

Nolangeni, from Mandela Park in Mthatha, is believed to have been kidnapped before being killed.

His bullet-riddled body was found outside Mthatha after his family reported him missing at the Madeira police station.

The Hawks said according to the family he was last seen alive on the Tuesday, May 23.

“According to the family members, Nolangeni was allegedly phoned by someone asking him to meet them in town.

He was never seen alive again. “His vehicle was found by police and the family, still parked where he had left it.

“His family reported him missing on Wednesday and the following day he was found shot dead at Tyumbu Village, near Qokolweni, outside Mthatha,” Mgolodela said.

Nolangeni’s body was found near a forest by a villager who alerted the authorities.

After a shootout during the May 10 foiled robbery, an injured suspect was discovered while the getaway car was being searched.

The man died of his injuries.

The other suspects then hijacked another Ford Ranger, later found abandoned in Northcrest.

A G4S security guard was injured in the attack.

According to the Hawks, three of the men they suspected of being involved in the attempted heist were Nolangeni, Xolisa Viliza Mbelesi and Ukhona “Ukho” Xokolo.

The fourth was Mlondolozi Goniwe, 27, of Matyeba village in Tsolo, who was wounded during the shootout and later died in hospital.

Mgolodela said: “Xokolo was allegedly kidnapped from Mthatha, and killed and dumped in Lusikisiki.

“He is from Chris Hani Park in Mthatha and he was also shot dead.”

The 37-year-old was shot on May 16, six days after the foiled heist.

Mgolodela said Mbelesi, 31, was found shot dead at Zimbane Valley, Mthatha, on May 6, four days before the foiled heist.

Mgolodela said the four were being investigated for two separate heists in Mthatha.