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E1m stolen during Riverstone heist

04/07/2012 00:00:00 JABULISA DLAMINI

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MANZINI - About E1 million was allegedly stolen during the Riverstone Mall heist where a security guard was shot dead.

The Royal Swaziland Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Stephen Dlamini, confirmed that the robbers got away with about E1 million.

The robbers pounced on three Cash Security Services security officers on Monday morning at the mall. The security officers were carrying trunks filled with money which was being loaded in Standard Bank ATMs around Manzini.

There was a shootout between the robbers and the officers which resulted in one officer being fatally wounded while another was wounded on the leg.

Assistant Superintendent Dlamini insisted that, at this stage of the investigation, they did not yet have the exact figure the robbers got away with. "We still do not have the exact amount stolen during the heist as we are still compiling reports and conducting investigations on the matter. We would also like to urge the public to work hand in hand with the police in the apprehension of the people behind the heist," Dlamini said.

On the other hand Standard Bank Managing Director, Tineyi Mawocha who had promised to release the figure of the stolen amount later in the day yesterday said they would do so after the police had finished their investigations. "Until the police are finished with their investigations and the perpetrators apprehended, the bank will not be in a position to give out information on the stolen amount. The information the public has is enough, however, if the police have given you the figure, then you should go with it," Mawocha said.

William Tsabedze, the security guard was shot by the robbers at close range. Tsabedze was certified dead upon arrival at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital.

Tsabedze’s colleague, Sibusiso Malindzisa was shot in the thigh and was yesterday transferred to Milpark Hospital in South Africa.

One of the robbers was shot in the leg and arm, but still managed to escape. A VW Golf has been impounded by the police, which is said to have been driven by the robbers.

... heist captured on CCTV

MANZINI- The robbers who got away with over E1 million on Monday at the Riverstone Mall might be on the run but the CCTV cameras at the mall may have captured the heist as it unfolded.

According to well placed sources, the CCTV cameras monitored and recorded activity inside and around the mall.

The police are conducting investigations based on the footage, the sources said.

When this reporter paid a visit to the mall yesterday, the main glass door leading to the Samsung Store which was smashed during the shootout had been replaced. It seemed to be business as usual, however, a few people when interviewed said they were still traumatised by the incident.

Mpumi Hlatjwako who heads the Riverstone Mall office, refused to comment about the CCTV cameras and the incident.

She referred questions to Theo Hlophe who is currently out of the country. The Royal Swaziland Police Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent Stephen Dlamini urged the public to assist the police in apprehending the suspects. He said anyone with information which could lead to their arrests should contact 999 or the nearest police station.

We weren’t called for protection - RSP

MANZINI - The Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) has come out to say that the security company, Cash Security Services did not contact them for protection on the day of the heist.

Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Stephen Dlamini, said cash-in-transit companies informed them on a daily basis if they were going to transport cash for protection.

The Cash Security Services vehicle drove into the Riverstone Mall without the RSP Rapid Response vehicle and armed police officers in tow on the day of the incident where a security guard was killed and another seriously injured.

Meanwhile, the Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Union (SATU), which is the union of security guards, confirmed that some security companies do not seek the protection of the Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) when transporting cash.

The association’s Secretary General, Frank Mncina said their job was dangerous and always required the back up of fully armed police officers.

"We work under very dangerous conditions yet we are underpaid. Our job is to protect our clients’ properties, yet when robbers strike they attack us first before going for whatever they are after," he said.

Mncina said out of 55 registered security companies in the country only five complied with the labour laws and Cash Security Services (PTY) LTD was one of them. On behalf of the association, he passed condolences to the family of William Tsabedze of Malindza who died after being shot by the robbers on Monday.

He also wished his colleague, Sibusiso Malindzisa a speedy recovery. When asked how safe the bullet proof vests were, Mncina confirmed that security guards were always protected by the vests.

"We cannot, however, rule out the possibility that there are other parts of a person’s body which remain exposed and open to harm from bullets," he said.

Company to pay for Tsabedze’s children

MALINDZA – School-going children of the killed Cash in Transit Commander William Tsabedze stand to benefit handsomely from the company.

This was said by Christopher Scott-Long, the Managing Director of Guard Alert Cash Security Services, in an interview yesterday.

Scott-Long described Tsabedze as someone who was not only liked and respected, but a senior employee by virtue of being the commander.

"We cannot replace him, but we need to reimburse his family, hence his children who’re still at school will have their fees paid for by the company," he said. "This kind of arrangement will remain in place until they complete their high school education.

"As a fully-fledged company, we’ve an obligation to take care of his children as a way of paying back his dedication to the organisation."

Phineas Ntoto Tsabedze, an elder brother to the deceased, said his sibling left behind a wife and 10 children.

Tsabedze said five of the children were still in school, saying two of them attended high school while the rest were at primary level.

Comments

I wish to commend Cash security services for assisting the family, regarding the E250000. for medical sevices. Most security companies would never do that for their employees.
Jul 4, 2012, 1:20 PM, Didi (didi@reclam.co.sz)