Spate of KZN cash heists

2008-03-04 09:25

Johannesburg - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele on Monday condemned a surge in cash-in-transit heists in the province.

"This renewed spate of heists in the province is something we condemn in the strongest terms," he said.

Ndebele was speaking after at least six incidents of cash-in-transit heists were reported in the province on Monday.

The robberies occurred in Kranskop, Amanzimtoti, Ezingolweni, Isipingo and Ladysmith. Two people were shot dead and several injured at the Ezingolweni incident.

Ndebele said the province had experienced a period of relative calm from heist gangs in the recent past, due to police crime intelligence and effective strategies against cash-in-transit heists.

He urged the police to intensify their vigilance and fight even harder against the practice.

"We have confidence in the country's security agencies in dealing with the resurgence of this scourge. We also want to appeal to our communities to join hands in the fight against this kind of criminality by warning the police of impending cash-in-transit heists that they may have information on."

Meanwhile the premier has applauded the police for their swift action in arresting some of the robbers in Kranskop and Ezingolweni.

- SAPA