South Africa: Armored car hit leads to cash scramble

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Scores of South Africans were seen scrambling for cash that had scattered across a road in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, after robbers bombed an armored car on Wednesday.

Videos posted on Twitter by Yusuf Abramjee, an anti-crime activist, showed several people scrambling to pick cash scattered on the road, where two vehicles were burning behind them.

Col. Brenda Muridili, a police spokeswoman, said a group of suspects traveling in three cars had targeted the armored vehicle which they hit with explosives to gain access.

"The suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money as well as leaving cash scattered on the road and a Mercedes Benz burning," Muridili told news24, a local online news website.

Police said it was wrong for community members to pick the scattered money at the crime scene and those found in possession of the stolen cash could face criminal charges.

South Africa has one of the highest crime rates on the continent, with cash-in-transit crimes being common. Police often clash with robbers on the streets or in car chases that last hours.

Crimes had recently decreased as South Africa imposed a ban on sale of alcohol for two months to combat the spread of novel coronavirus, according to the country’s police minister.

However, the ban was lifted earlier this week.