N11 Closed Following Cash-in-Transit Heist Near Newcastle, 1 Guard Killed and 2 Others Injured

N11 Closed Following Cash-in-Transit Heist Near Newcastle, 1 Guard Killed and 2 Others Injured

  • One guard has been killed after a brazen cash-in-transit heist on the N11 between Ladysmith and Newcastle
  • In a video circulating on social media, armed men could be seen blowing open the doors of the vehicle to steal the money
  • Motorists are urged to find alternative routes as the N11 remains closed, but some motorists are still stuck in traffic
The scene on the N11 where a cash-in-transit heist took place.
One person has been killed in a cash-in-transit heist on the N11 between Ladysmith and Newcastle. Image: Submitted.
Source: Original

The N11 in Northern KwaZulu-Natal is currently closed following a cash-in-transit heist earlier.

The incident occurred near Tigerskloof on the N11, between Ladysmith and Newcastle, just after 5 pm.

Video captures moment heist happened

In a video, which soon started circulating in local WhatsApp groups, armed men could be seen surrounding the cash-in-transit vehicle before they blew open the doors.

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A motorist who recorded the incident could be heard saying that the shooting began afterwards. Some motorists could also be seen making U-turns and fleeing the area.

Details surrounding the incident are unclear at present, but according to the Newcastle Advertiser, it's believed that a shootout occurred between law enforcement and the suspects.

The driver of the vehicle has been confirmed dead, and two others are said to be injured.

Motorists stuck in traffic

Motorists travelling between Newcastle and Ladysmith are now urged to find alternative routes as the N11 remains closed.

A motorist, who spoke exclusively to Briefly News, said she had been stuck in a traffic jam for the past two hours. She stated her frustration, saying that her son was writing exams tomorrow and still needed to get home to study.

While some have been able to find alternative routes home, many remain stuck in traffic as they wait for police and emergency services to clear the scene.

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Cash-in-transit heist caught on camera

Briefly News previously reported on another cash-in-transit heist in KZN that was captured on camera.

In the video, which occurred between Kokstad and Harding, armed robbers could be seen attacking the van.

The video also captures the moment the police and the armed men engaged in a shootout during the robbery.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Byron Pillay avatar

Byron Pillay (Editor) Byron Pillay is a Current Affairs Editor at Briefly News. He received a Diploma in Journalism from the Caxton Cadet School. He spent 11 years covering a wide variety of news as a community journalist, including politics, crime and current affairs. He also was a Head of Department for Sports Brief, where he covered both local and international sporting news. Email: byron.pillay@briefly.co.za