Sakhile Mokoena

Sakhile Mokoena

Police are searching for a cash heist gang believed to be responsible for two armed robberies in Hazyview, Mpumalanga.

Hazyview, once a sleepy town and now a popular tourist attraction and gateway to Kruger National Park, has been hit by at least two cash heists in the past three weeks.

Yesterday two security guards were critically wounded when armed robbers attacked a filling station and stole an empty money box.

The robbers, driving in a Volkswagen Golf 4, fired at the security van that was parked at the garage, injuring the two guards.

Police spokesman Constable Mpho Koli said the injured guards were taken to hospital and a docket of attempted murder and armed robbery was opened.

Police suspect that the same gang might be responsible for another attack in the area.

In another incident earlier this month, two vehicles were damaged during a shootout between robbers and security guards in Hazyview.

According to the police, Fidelity Guards employees were delivering cash to the local FNB branch at about 10am when they were confronted by three armed men.

One of the robbers held up a security guard who was carrying a money bag, ordering him to drop it. The two other robbers ransacked the security guards' vehicle and took an undisclosed sum of money.

As the robbers drove off, they fired shots at the guards, who shot back. Two vehicles parked at the garage were damaged in the ensuing shootout.