Update

GEORGE NEWS - Fidelity Security Services guards, and two eyewitnesses in a separate vehicle, escaped with their lives after a group of armed gunmen in a bakkie opened fire during an attempted cash-in-transit (CIT) heist on the Kaaimans Pass at about 17:20 on Monday 18 July.

According to information received from the scene, the eyewitnesses were caught in the line of fire between the two vehicles when the suspects started shooting at the CIT vehicle, puncturing some of its tyres. 

Everyone however escaped unharmed and no injuries were reported. This is the fourth attempted CIT heist in the area in the past year.

George Herald reached out to the traumitised eyewitnesses who said it was the most terrifying experience they have ever had.

"Myself and my best friend, who was the driver of the vehicle at the time, were driving towards George when a speeding bakkie overtook us into oncoming traffic," said one of the eyewitnesses whose name is being withheld.

"As we were about to indicate to the left, the Fidelity vehicle passed us in the left lane. Both vehicles came to a halt in the middle of the N2 and bullets started flying. We were trapped behind the two vehicles in the middle of the shooting.

"At some stage one of the armed men at the back of the bakkie, a Nissan double cab, aimed a gun at us while the two other passengers proceeded to shoot at the Fidelity vehicle right next to us. 

"We could only duck down in our car hoping the gunmen wouldn't open fire on us or our vehicle. When we heard the vehicles speed off we sat back up and immediately phoned the police."

At the time of going to print, no comment had been received from Fidelity Security Services.

According to Southern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie, the CIT vehicle was travelling from Knysna to George when it was accosted by an unknown number of suspects in a speeding white Nissan double cab bakkie. Despite having some of its tyres shot out, the Fidelity vehicle managed to escape from the scene.

"It is alleged that the unknown occupants of the bakkie opened fire on the truck in an attempt to force it to a halt, but the driver foiled their attempt and they couldn't force him to stop," said Pojie.

The suspects eventually sped off after realising that their plan had failed. The bakkie was found abandoned near Herold's Bay and the CIT vehicle came to a halt under the bridge near the Garden Route Mall on the N2.

The bakkie was taken in for forensic examination by forensic experts at the local criminal record centre. "The circumstances pertaining to the incident are being probed by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation's organised crime unit based in George," said Pojie.

Kaaimans pass was closed for some hours and only reopened for traffic at about 22:00 that evening.

No arrests have been made and anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the investigating detective, WO Gerhardt Roux, on 044 803 4749, 082 559 4628 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. All information will be dealt with confidentially.

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