Two bystanders killed, two more injured after CIT heist on Putfontein Road in Benoni

Two bystanders have died while two more, including a guard, have been left injured after a cash-in-transit heist in Benoni on Wednesday morning. 

The incident happened at around 8am on Putfontein Road when heavily armed suspects attacked a Fidelity cash van, according to authorities.

Ekurhuleni metro police, Blue Hawk Tactical as well as national police all confirmed the incident as well as fatalities.

A video clip shared by Blue Hawk shows a vehicle alight at the scene. Other images show a bombed CIT van with police and security on the scene.

Ekurhuleni metro police department (EMPD) spokesperson Ignatius Maphike confirmed that various law enforcement agencies were on the scene.

"No SAPS or EMPD member has been injured but one Fidelity security guard has been injured on the arm as a result of the collision. Two bystanders were fatally shot and another was shot in the arm."

This was confirmed by national police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe, who said the bystanders were randomly shot at by the heavily armed gang.

Mathe urged people to avoid the road as it is "still an active crime scene".

"SAPS has mobilised its crime scene experts, including the bomb disposal unit, to investigate, while a multidisciplinary team has been dispatched to search for the armed suspects," she said.

"Police have already recovered three getaway vehicles which include a burnt-out gold BMW sedan, a silver sedan and a white Audi A1."

All three vehicles were using false number plates, according to Maphike.

The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of money and no arrests have been made. 

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