KEY POINTS
- Ayanda Nombebe, 22, appeared in court for his alleged involvement in a botched cash-in-transit robbery that resulted in a deadly shootout, leaving six suspects dead.
- The Gauteng NPA revealed that Nombebe faces multiple charges, including murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
- The incident, which occurred in Laudium, has highlighted the ongoing issue of cash-in-transit heists in South Africa, with the case postponed to March 5 for bail investigations.
A 22-year-old man, Ayanda Nombebe, from Khalankomo Village in the Eastern Cape, appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court in Tshwane on Wednesday, February 27, 2025, following a botched cash-in-transit robbery that left six suspects dead.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, February 24, 2025, in Laudium, has drawn significant attention as details of the deadly shootout between the suspects and police emerge.
The Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, confirmed that Nombebe is facing a slew of charges, including six counts of murder, five counts of possession of unlicensed firearms, two counts of attempted murder of police officials, conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of ammunition, and possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
“Police received a tip-off about a planned cash-in-transit robbery at Attlyn Mall in Atteridgeville. Acting on the tip-off, the police arrived at the mall, spotted two motor vehicles that would supposedly be involved in the robbery, and began to follow them as they were heading to Laudium,” Mahanjana explained.
“Police attempted to stop the vehicles, but the suspects refused to comply. They instead sped off and began to shoot at the police vehicle. After driving a few meters, the vehicles stopped, and seven suspects came out of the vehicles. Thereafter, a shootout between the suspects and the police ensued, resulting in six suspects dying on the scene,” she added.
Nombebe Flees Shoout Scene
IOL reports that during the intense exchange of gunfire, Nombebe managed to flee the scene and sought refuge in a nearby house. However, he was later apprehended by law enforcement officers.
Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the vehicles used in the attempted robbery had been reported stolen in Clayville, further complicating the case.
The matter has been postponed to March 5, 2025, for bail investigations, while Nombebe remains in custody. The case has sparked widespread debate about the increasing prevalence of cash-in-transit robberies in South Africa and the measures being taken to combat this violent crime.
