Following an increase in ATM bombings in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng police finally nabbed two suspects in possession of stolen money (with stains) and explosives on Thursday.
In Thokoza, there are fewer than five ATMs left after a spate of bombings in recent months.
The two suspected ATM bombers were arrested on the M7 near Thokoza following a shoot-out with police.
Gauteng provincial SAPS spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed the arrests.
“Two suspects have been arrested and cash and explosives have been recovered following an ATM bombing at Thokoza during the early hours today. Another suspect was shot and injured and he managed to escape. Investigations are continuing,” Kweza.
She said the two suspects were in custody, while the explosives and cash recovered were taken in as exhibits.
Musa Madlala, a resident of Unit F in Thokoza, said he was concerned about the increasing crime in his neighbourhood, especially ATM bombings.
“At the rate ATMs are bombed in this region, we are fast going to run out of them. My biggest worry is that if all ATMs are bombed, that will force us to catch a taxi or two to go to the mall just to access them. Imagine old people and women who collect their grant money from ATMs, they would be the most affected,” said Madlala.
Some people took to social media platform X to share their views on the arrests, with some even questioning why the police had not killed the suspects.
Matchupa Kubayi said that ATMs explode in Ekurhuleni almost every week. “I even lost count of how many ATMs have been bombed in the southern region of Ekurhuleni. Katlehong and Thokoza are the most affected. Every week there’s an ATM bombing,” he said.
Sizwe 24seven wrote: “Why are they still alive after a shoot-out with police? There mustn’t be any arrest or casualties in such cases.”
Bass Swart wrote: “Why is are Gauteng police wasting state resources all times with this arrest thing … shoot dead in self-defence … KZN knows that no officers must die in shoot-outs with criminals.”
Meanwhile, Vosloorus police are investigating a murder, three attempted murders, robbery of firearms and a cash-in-transit docket following a cash-in-transit heist which took place at Extension 16, Vosloorus, on Wednesday.
Kweza said one security guard was shot and killed while others were injured during the incident.
“No arrest at the moment and police investigations are continuing. The security vehicle was ambushed by three vehicles after picking up cash at various points in Katlehong and Vosloorus. They were then robbed of their firearms and cellphones before the suspects bombed the security vehicle and stole the cash,” Kweza said.
The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) has also raised concerns about the surge in cash-in-transit heists and ATM bombings.
Last October, Sabric said banks lost R32 million in cash from attacks.
It said most ATM attacks occurred in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West.
The Star