R1m reward offered after guard shot and killed in cash-in-transit heist

Cape Town – A cash-in-transit company has offered a R1m reward for information after a security officer was shot and killed in Mthatha on Thursday morning.

The man, employed by SBV Services, had collected an undisclosed amount of cash from a supermarket in Ngcobo at about 10:00 when he was robbed and shot.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Captain Namhla Mdleleni said the guard was hit in the upper body as he made his way to the cash vehicle.

The two suspects grabbed the money and fled to a getaway vehicle nearby.

The security guard died at the scene. His two colleagues – who had been in the van at the time – escaped unharmed, Mdleleni said.

The suspects are still at large.

Group CEO of SBV Services Mark Barrett said he was "deeply saddened" at by the employee's death.

"SBV's risk and compliance team is working with the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators. We take the loss of life seriously and will utilise all of our resources to ensure that the individuals responsible for this violent attack are apprehended and brought to justice."

The company offered a R1m reward to anyone with any information that will lead to the robbers' arrest and conviction and urged them to phone the SBV early warning robbery hotline on 083 408 7029.