Pretoria – The only surviving member of a seven-man suspected cash-in-transit heist gang, 22-year-old Ayanda Nombebe, has abandoned his bail application at the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court.
Nombebe, from Khalankomo Village in the Eastern Cape, was the only survivor when seven suspects engaged in a shootout with police late last month.
Nombebe faces multiple charges, including six counts of murder, five counts of possession of unlicensed firearms, two counts of attempted murder of police officials, conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of ammunition, and possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
It is alleged that on 24 February 2025, the police received a tip-off about a planned cash-in-transit robbery at Attlyn Mall in Atteridgeville.
“Acting on the tip-off, the police arrived at the mall, spotted two motor vehicles that would supposedly be involved in the robbery and began to follow them as they were heading to Laudium,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
“While driving on Military Road in Laudium, police attempted to stop the vehicles, but the suspects refused to comply.
“They instead sped off and began to shoot at the police vehicle.”
After driving a short distance the vehicles stopped, and seven suspects exited and confronted the police.
Mahanjana said: “Thereafter, a shootout between the suspects and the police ensued resulting in six suspects dying on the scene”.
Mahanjana said during the shootout, the accused fled to a nearby house, where he was found and arrested.
“Further investigations revealed that one of the vehicles used in the attempted robbery had been reported stolen in Clayville,” said the NPA spokesperson.
The case has been postponed to 26 March 2025 for a regional court appearance, while Nombebe remains in custody.
