'Cops' involved in deadly heist

2010-06-07 07:45

Sonja van Buul en Daniëlla du Plooy, Beeld

Johannesburg - A policeman was shot dead in cold blood on Saturday morning while chasing a group of 15 men who had staged a cash-in-transit heist.

Apparently two of the four suspects arrested in Johannesburg in connection with the murder of Sergeant Gert du Toit, 32, of the K9 unit (formerly the dog unit), are police officials.

Three reliable sources have told Beeld that some of the suspects are police officials from the Sharpeville and Sebokeng police stations.

Another policeman, Constable Musa Arthur Kefwa, and two Coin security guards were shot and wounded in the heist and subsequent shootout.

Criminals in police uniforms

Bheki Cele, national chief of police, said at a news conference in Pretoria on Sunday that he can't confirm that no police officials were involved in the crime, reports Hilda Fourie.

During the course of the investigation it may come to light that police officials were involved.

"I can't call them police officials. They are criminals using police uniforms," said Cele.

According to him, at least one of the arrested men is out on bail for a similar crime.

Coin Security has also confirmed that one of the suspects is a former employee.

Widow heard of shooting on police radio

Du Toit’s wife, Alicia, was on duty at the temporary control room set up at the old Brixton flying squad's radio room for the purposes of the World Cup. The shooting took place a few kilometres from Soccer City.

Alicia, a police clerk, reportedly listened to the events unfolding on the police radio. She learnt of the death of her husband, who was known as Toitjie, shortly after he was shot in his left side, under his armpit.

One of the police officials who were at the scene said on Sunday that Du Toit's body was lying just outside the police vehicle.

"It looked like he'd jumped out to find shelter behind the car."

The group of robbers - in five cars - struck the Coin truck and its back-up vehicle between 07:00 and 08:00 on Saturday on the N1 South between the Maraisburg and Nasrec off-ramps.

According to national police spokesperson Sally de Beer, the robbers used two vehicles to force the Coin vehicle from the road and then grabbed the bags of cash.

"After they shot the two security guards, they deserted the two cars and fled the scene in other vehicles."

Police chase

The police spotted them driving on Old Potchefstroom Road in the direction of Soweto and took chase.

"The suspects opened fire on the police during the chase, hitting one (Kefwa) in the hand."

They then raced to Protea South in Soweto, where a gun battle broke out and Du Toit was fatally wounded.

One of the vehicles also drove into a yard where a woman was sitting with a child on her lap. The mother and child ran away.

Four suspects were arrested at the scene.

The police seized three vehicles and eight firearms, which include an AK-47, R4 and R5 assault rifles and a pistol.

The N1 was cordoned off for about an hour after the heist, causing traffic to back up several kilometres.
 
According to Govindsamy Mariemuthoo, Gauteng head of communication, the police expect to make more arrests soon.