POLOKO TAU
P OLICE believe an armed gang that blasted an ATM at a Total garage in Soweto two weeks ago, killing a reservist as they fled, have struck again.
In these pictures, the robbers were captured on CCTV while setting up explosives on an ATM in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday night.
Busisiwe Mehlwana, a 33-year-old reservist constable, was shot dead in Soweto by the armed men as they fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
According to police, the men in these pictures used a bakkie similar to the one used in Pimville.
Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila said it appeared to the police that the robbers in the two bombings used the same modus operandi.
“The Isuzu bakkie was abandoned after they attacked the ATM in Vryheid. Police now have four clear photographs of the suspects,” Malila said.
The gang at the Pimville bombing fled the scene in a white Isuzu bakkie. In this picture, the suspects are shown using a crow- bar on the ATM, connecting wires to the machine and later to a battery on the floor before the detonation.
One robber is clearly shown in the pictures wearing a brown jacket and a black-and-white beanie.
A second robber is wearing a black-and-grey sports jacket with a black hood, and red gloves.
A third robber appears wearing a black top and a beanie, while the fourth has a black balaclava on and what appears to be a black-and-white Reebok hooded top.
Police believe the same men were involved in a spate of ATM bombings across Gauteng over the past three months.
They are also believed to be frequent travellers between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, although police say they could also be operating in other provinces.
“They are heavily armed, brazen, well organised and they are not afraid to kill,” said Malila.
Police have appealed to members of the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. “We appeal to the public to please take a close look at their faces and come forward with information on their whereabouts,” said Malila.
“Detectives are working around the clock, following up on information, and they believe that the release of the fresh photos will assist in bringing the criminals to book.”
Police believe the men’s clothing could assist in identifying them.
A week ago, the police and Crime Line released CCTV footage of the ATM bombing in Pimville, showing that one of the robbers has a limp.
The footage has already recorded more than 7 000 views on YouTube and thousands more on various media websites, including Crime Line.
“Information is coming in following the release of the initial CCTV footage, but we need more. Someone, somewhere, somehow knows these ATM bombers and cop killers,” Malila said.
“Do the right thing and come forward with information and pass it on to Crime Line or Crime Stop.”
Police are offering a R150 000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Crime Line head Yusuf Abramjee asked the public to give detailed information when submitting tip-offs. “We want the who, what, when, where, why and how. However, we appeal to the public not to approach these men and to pass on information anonymously,” he said.
“To qualify for the police reward, tipsters will have to volunteer their names and phone numbers. We will ensure that the information is dealt with in the strictest confidence.”
Abramjee appealed to communities to take a close look at the latest pictures and to “stand up and make a difference”.