Somerset West CIT heist: Alleged robber in court
Nyameko Samela has appeared in court.
Image: Hawks
An alleged cash-in-transit robber appeared in the Somerset West Magistrate’s Court this week in connection with a heist outside a supermarket in January this year.
Nyameko Samela, 40, was charged with attempted murder and cash-in-transit robbery.
He was arrested by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (known as Hawks) National Priority Violent Crime (NPVC) team based in Bellville.
The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, said the arrest follows a cash-in-transit robbery that took place in January 2025.
On the day of the incident, a cash vehicle of the G4S collected cash at the Foodlovers Market in Somerset West.
“When the crewman went inside the store to collect the cash, he was accosted by armed suspects. One of the suspects opened fire on the running crew member and wounded him. The suspects fled the scene with two bags of cash estimated at R331,000,” Vukubi said.
The investigating team conducted a thorough investigation, and a suspect was identified, and a positive linkage was made.
After his brief appearance, the matter against Samela has been postponed until July 3, 2025.
The court has ordered that he remain in custody until then.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL