WC MEC, Khayelitsha CPF question 'sloppy' police work after court allows suspected CIT robbers to go free
The men were linked to a planned cash-in-transit robbery in Khayelitsha earlier this week.
The Khayelitsha Magistrates' Court where 3 of the 5 suspects accused of planning a cash-in-transit heist appeared. Picture: EWN/ Ntuthuzelo Nene
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape police oversight and community safety MEC Anroux Marais has also expressed shock after the case against five men linked to a foiled cash-in-transit heist in Khayelitsha was struck from the court roll on Thursday.
The Khayelitsha Magistrates Court took the decision after the accused were not charged within 48 hours after being arrested, as required by the law.
MEC Marais: "I am shocked and dismayed at this sloppy work, which is completely unacceptable. The suspects must be re-arrested as soon as possible. This cannot stand."
Meanwhile, Khayelitsha community policing forum (CPF) chairperson Funeka Soldaat said that they needed answers from the police on why five suspected criminals were allowed to walk free.
The men were linked to a planned cash-in-transit robbery in Khayelitsha earlier this week.
They were arrested during a police operation in Town Two on Monday, where eight other suspected criminals were shot and killed in a shootout with the police.
However, the court struck their case from the court roll.
The law requires a suspect to appear before court within 48 hours after their arrest, which didn't happen in this case.
Soldaat questioned how a mistake like this could be allowed to happen.
"It's so sad for us, unfortunately, we don't know the police strategy, maybe SAPS has a strategy in place in terms of doing further investigations. Let's hope that's the case, but even if it's that, it doesn't sit well with us."