Police are searching for suspects following a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist on the N2 near Hibberdene on KwaZulu-Natal's south coast that left three security guards injured and triggered widespread looting and traffic disruptions.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said the incident occurred on Thursday night near the Mfazazana area.
"It is reported that suspects ambushed the security guards, opened fire and brought the cash-in-transit vehicle to a standstill. The suspects robbed the security guards of their firearms but failed to steal the cash," Netshiunda said.
Three security guards sustained injuries during the attack and were taken to hospital for treatment.
According to the Community Crime and Prevention Association (CCPA) in Hibberdene, the incident caused severe congestion on the N2, leaving motorists stranded for nearly five hours.
CCPA chairperson Ibrahim Shaik, who was among the first responders at the scene, said it is alleged that several vehicles approached the cash van before an explosive device was detonated.
"Money was all over the place and the three members of the security company were injured. Everybody survived, but they were sent to a medical facility," Shaik said.
He said the chaos that followed the attack created an opportunity for opportunistic criminals, with reports emerging of trucks being looted and motorists being targeted while trapped in traffic.
"Reports were coming in from other security companies that cargo theft was happening. Personal property in civilian cars, including wallets, handbags and cell phones, was stolen. People were being forced out of their cars and robbed of these items," Shaik said.
Once the highway was reopened, members of the crime prevention association launched their own recovery efforts, going door-to-door in nearby communities to trace stolen property.
"We interrogated, went house-to-house knocking from one lead to the next. We've recovered two cell phones and one refrigerator," Shaik said.
He urged victims to report incidents to the South African Police Service, warning that failing to open cases allows offenders to evade accountability.
"Without a case being opened, the thief of the cell phone gets away, and the next time there's a problem on the freeway, he knows it's easy pickings and he's going to go down there," he said.
Shaik warned that truck looting has become an ongoing concern in the Hibberdene area and called for stronger measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Police investigations into the cash-in-transit heist and the subsequent looting are continuing.