Residents and early morning travellers along the R102 in Isihlonyane were plunged into panic today as sustained, heavy gunfire erupted on the key provincial route, in what authorities are investigating as a likely cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery. The incident, which occurred in the pre-dawn hours, has triggered a massive response from multiple police units, including the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and Tactical Response Teams.
According to initial, unconfirmed reports from eyewitnesses, a cash van was ambushed on the stretch of road between the towns of Isihlonyane and Kwamachi. The sound of automatic weapons and explosions echoed through the area, sending motorists scrambling for cover and forcing local businesses to shutter temporarily.
“We heard what sounded like war—constant shooting, then a huge blast. People were screaming and running. I saw cars reversing back up the road to get away,” said one shaken resident who lives near the highway but asked not to be named.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued an urgent advisory, cordoning off a significant portion of the R102 and urging all motorists to seek alternate routes indefinitely. The R102 is a critical alternative to the N2 and is heavily used by holiday traffic at this time of year, raising concerns about potential gridlock and public safety over a wider area.
“At this stage, we are responding to a scene of violent crime on the R102. The area is an active crime scene and is extremely dangerous. We request that the public avoid the area entirely to allow emergency and investigative teams to operate safely,” said Brigadier Mthethwa, a provincial police spokesperson. He confirmed that a multi-disciplinary operation was underway but declined to give further details on casualties or the status of the targeted vehicle, citing the fluidity of the situation.
Local community leaders have expressed alarm at the brazenness of the attack, which follows a worrying spike in sophisticated and violent CIT heists across KwaZulu-Natal in recent months.
“These criminals are targeting our roads in broad daylight, terrorizing our communities, and putting innocent lives at risk. This is not just a robbery; it is an act of terror on our public infrastructure,” said Councillor Bongani Dlamini of the uMzinyathi District.
The incident is expected to cause major delays for holidaymakers and commercial transport. Traffic officials are directing vehicles onto regional detours, but significant congestion is already being reported on surrounding roads.
As police work to secure the scene and hunt for the perpetrators, who are believed to have fled in multiple vehicles, the attack has cast a pall over the festive season in the region. It also raises urgent questions about the security of major transport routes and the escalating firepower of criminal syndicates operating in the province.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as official information is released by authorities.
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