'I was fine' says pregnant eyewitness to Boksburg heist

A woman who witnessed the cash-in-transit heist in Boksburg‚ Ekurhuleni‚ says she remained calm during the unfolding violence‚ even while listening to the rapid fire of R5 weapons and her colleagues' anxious shouts.

At least two cash-in-transit vehicles were bombed during the heist that left about eight people injured in broad daylight on Atlas Road on Thursday.

The woman‚ who asked not to be named‚ said she perceived it as just another day in crime-riddled South Africa.

“It was a very scary thing to see. Big guns and bullets everywhere‚ it was a lot. I am disappointed at these criminals. But it was just another day‚ because it could have happened anywhere in South Africa‚” said the woman.

As she is heavily pregnant‚ her colleagues were worried that she was witnessing the crime.

Referring to a female colleague‚ the woman told TimesLIVE: “She was worried about the baby more than me. But I am fine. I was just watching as it happened.”

Fear was lurking at the back of her mind today‚ when she headed to work.

“It was fearful because you don’t know what they will do next. You wonder what could happen today‚” she said.

Five suspects have been arrested so far. The Hawks have launched a manhunt for others who may be linked to the heist. Several firearms including AK47 rifles and ammunition‚ vehicles suspected to have been used by the gang and some of the stolen money have been seized. “Contrary to widespread reports doing the rounds‚ there is no police officer amongst the arrested suspects. The unknown number of suspects are now subject to a manhunt‚” said Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu from the Hawks.

The five are expected to appear at the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on Monday to face charges related to armed robbery with aggravating circumstances‚ attempted murder and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

In a separate case‚ Captain Mulamu said two suspects aged 26 and 30 were appearing in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court today for at least five cash-in-transit cases - two in Mpumalanga and three in Gauteng. They were arrested by the Gauteng Hawks’ National Bureau of Illegal Firearms Control and Priority Violent Crimes Unit on Thursday in Soshanguve.

There has been a dramatic increase in cash-in-transit heists‚ according to emergency assistance service Namola. As a result businesses are advised to remain vigilant by screening employees‚ regularly monitoring them and minimising exposure to threats from criminals‚ encouraging employees to report threats and providing security for them when they do so.