A MINIBUS driver was arrested after two trunks containing nearly R1 million and an R4 rifle were found in his vehicle shortly after a cash-in-transit heist in Sabie on Monday afternoon.

Sabie police spokesman Inspector Ezekiel Masinga told Sowetan the whole drama started in the town's First National Bank, when an armed robber ambushed a security guard inside the bank at about 1pm.

"The guard walked in carrying two trunks to collect cash from the bank," Masinga said. "He was on his way out when the suspect held him up with a firearm.

"The suspect ran out of the bank to the waiting cash vehicle but was confronted by two more armed robbers waiting outside the bank."

Masinga said the robbers jumped into an Audi A4 with the trunks and were joined by the first robber before they sped off.

Bank officials called the police, who spotted the Audi A4 and gave chase before it disappeared into the bush.

The police saw the robbers running to a waiting Toyota Quantum minibus.

"The Quantum driver started its engine but we were already on the scene," Masinga said.

"We arrested the driver but his three accomplices managed to flee into the bush."

He said all the stolen money was recovered and an R4 rifle confiscated.

Masinga said the minibus driver claimed the three robbers had earlier hijacked and forced him to drive for them.