JOHANNESBURG - Two police officers from Vaalbank in Mpumalanga will remain behind bars this festive season.
They appeared in the Vaalbank Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges related to a R5.8 million cash-in-transit (CIT) heist.
The case dates back to 2021 and had been struck off the court roll.
With new evidence, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had the two re-arrested last week.
The NPA said investigations had proven that the first suspect Sergeant George Phaala, used a State vehicle to collect guns to give to the second suspect, Zachariah Magopa.
The firearms were allegedly used during the heist.
A third suspect, Bongumusa Jele, was arrested in KaNyamazane, and his matter was placed on the roll with the others.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Dineo Sekgotodi: “On 17 December 2024, ex Constable Magopa was arrested with J50 in Siyabuswa, and detained at Vaalbank holding cells. On 18 December 2024, Sergeant Phaahla was arrested with J50 at his workplace and both suspects appeared before Vaalbank Magistrates Court.”
The case has been postponed to 27 February 2025.
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Repeat cash-in-transit suspected robber Bonginkosi Thokozane Jele has dropped his bid for bail
He and his two co-accused Constable Zachariah Makgaolane Magopa and Sergeant George Nape Phahla appeared in the Vaalbank Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on Thursday
This followed Jele’s second arrest in relation to another cash-in-transit (CIT) heist
the trio allegedly conspired and robbed a cash truck of R5.6 million in Senotlelo
Middelburg Hawks uncovered that Phahla had fetched the firearms allegedly used in the robbery
“Two vehicles believed to have been used during the robbery were recovered,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi
He was found with furniture believed to have been bought with his share of the cash.”
the Mbombela high court granted Magoba bail
the case was temporarily struck off the roll,” he added
the case was re-enrolled and a warrant for the trio’s arrest was issued
and Phahla at his workplace at the Vaalbank police station in December 2024
They were again released on bail and were expected back in court on February 27
had been in the Nelspruit prison since Wednesday’
“Cases involving cash in transit [robberies] are a serious concern
Such incidents affect the economy and place the lives of citizens and security officials at risk,” Mpumalanga Hawks head Major General Nico Gerber said
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A woman and her four children who died in an alleged poisoning incident on Vaalbank farm
It is alleged that 38-year old Nelly Pitso poisoned herself
her 34-year-old partner and her six children following an alleged altercation with her partner
It is alleged that the poison is used to kill rodents
Pitso’s 34-year-old partner and two of their children survived
SABC News’ Sellwane Khakhau and cameraperson Tumi Gaboutlooeloe reporting:
North West Department of Social Development spokesperson
Petrus Siko says the surviving children are receiving trauma counselling
“Our social workers have been on the ground doing sterling work by providing bereavement counselling to the family
They will continue to provide other services to the family even after the funeral.”
Video: Coligny residents in shock after five family members die an alleged poisoning incident:
“They have also made it possible for children who survived the ordeal to receive the services of the psychologist
we want to applaud the partnership between the Department of Social Development and Ditsobotla Local Municipality for ensuring that the coffins and groceries are available for the funeral,” adds Siko
North West family receives trauma counselling after five family members die from poison:
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Home » Christmas in jail for cops allegedly involved in R5.8m CIT heist
One of the two cops allegedly used a state vehicle to collect firearms used in a R5.8 million cash-in-transit robbery
Two former cops
were remanded in custody by the Vaalbank Magistrates Court for their alleged involvement in an R5.8 million cash-in-transit robbery
Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga Lieutenant Colonel Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said the former cops were arrested by a team of Middelburg-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation
and Ekangala Flying Squad on a J50 warrant of arrest
Sekgotodi said it was reported that on 1 February 2021
a G4S armoured vehicle was attacked by an unknown number of African males in the Senotlelo area
and the case docket was referred to Middelburg-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation for further probe
two police officers from Vaalbank police station were identified as involved in the crime
and further information revealed that Sergeant Phaahla used the state vehicle to collect firearms in Kwamhlanga and gave them to constable Magopa
“These firearms were used to attack the G4S AV
and both made confessions. Vehicles used to commit the crimes were recovered
and two more were recovered,” Sekgotodi. Further
an undisclosed amount of cash was seized from Constable Magopa
Both police officials appeared before Vaalbank Magistrates Court on 11 February 2021
and placed on the court roll with the other accused.
The case docket appeared several times before Vaalbank Magistrates Court until 25 August 2021
when it was struck off the roll due to outstanding forensics reports
and all outstanding matters and forensics reports were obtained. The docket was referred to the Public Prosecutor
resulting in all three suspects being re-arrested and placed back on court roll,” Sekgotodi said.
ex-constable Magopa was arrested with J50 in Siyabuswa and detained at Vaalbank holding cells
ex-sergeant Phaahla was arrested with J50 at his workplace
and both suspects appeared before Vaalbank Magistrates Court
The matter was postponed until 27 February 2025
pending an outstanding suspect detained at Witbank Prison for another cash-in-transit matter
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