WATCH: Armed Robbers Strike Cash-in-Transit Vehicle on N12 in Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga – A cash-in-transit heist unfolded on the N12 highway at the Ogies offramp, where armed robbers bombed and robbed an armoured vehicle.

The incident involved the use of explosives to access the vehicle's contents, with the robbers making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Authorities have confirmed that the scene remains active, and motorists are urged to avoid the area to ensure public safety and facilitate ongoing investigations.

This latest heist underscores the persistent and severe problem of cash-in-transit robberies plaguing South Africa, where such crimes remain a significant threat despite some recent declines in certain quarters. These attacks are often highly organized, executed with military precision, and involve heavy weaponry and explosives, leading to intense violence and endangering the lives of security personnel and bystanders.

In recent years, the number of cash-in-transit heists has fluctuated but stayed alarmingly high, with hundreds of incidents reported annually. For instance, in the 2021/2022 financial year, there were 238 recorded heists nationwide. This followed 195 incidents in 2020/2021, showing an upward trend at the time. Estimates for 2022/2023 put the figure at 229, while forecasts indicated a rise to 252 in 2023/2024 and 268 in 2024/2025 under steady growth scenarios.

Even with a reported 21% reduction in such robberies between 2017 and 2023 due to collaborative efforts between law enforcement and private security, the issue persists as a hallmark of South Africa's broader violent crime wave. Quarterly data reveals ongoing challenges; for example, the fourth quarter of 2023/2024 saw 40 heists, a 35.5% decrease from the 64 in the same period of 2022/2023. However, the fourth quarter of 2024/2025 recorded 35 incidents, still representing a substantial risk. Provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng bear the brunt, with KZN emerging as the highest-risk area in 2025.

The impact extends beyond financial losses, contributing to a climate of fear on the roads and straining resources. These heists have been described as epidemic in proportions, with police struggling to contain them amid soaring overall violent crime rates. Incidents frequently result in shootouts, injuries, and fatalities, as seen in cases where multiple robbers have been killed during confrontations with authorities.