Esselen Park CIT heist: Residents recall hearing big bang, seeing suspects flee

JOHANNESBURG - As a manhunt for the suspects behind a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist in Tembisa continues, residents have recalled seeing men fleeing the scene after getting away with cash.

A G4S cash van was bombed in Esselen Park in Tembisa earlier on Wednesday.

Police have arrested one suspect, who was injured on the scene, and two Mercedes-Benz vehicles linked to the crime have been discovered with ammunition.

An Esselen Park resident, who didn't want to be named, said it was the loud explosive sound that got him out of his house.

"I thought they were bombing the garage, only to find the men driving away. People were trying to gather whatever money they could. We were already late. If we arrived as they were bombing, we would have tried too."

Esselen Park residents said Link Road, which is narrow and leads to the R21 highway, was a popular spot for such heists.