12th man held over ATM bombings

PICTURE: UMNGENI NEWS CCTV footage shows a gang of ATM bombers as the set about laying explosives at a shopping centre in Merrivale.

PICTURE: UMNGENI NEWS CCTV footage shows a gang of ATM bombers as the set about laying explosives at a shopping centre in Merrivale.

Published Jan 25, 2013

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Durban - Police have arrested a twelfth man for a string of ATM bombings in KwaZulu-Natal, the Hawks said on Friday.

Captain Paul Ramoloko said Lungisiwe Dladla, 33, was arrested in Orlando, Soweto, on Thursday by the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks.

Dladla has been charged with murder, ATM bombing, three counts of attempted murder and being in illegal possession of explosives.

“We may add other charges as the investigation continues,” said Ramoloko.

Dladla, who is from Ladysmith in northern KwaZulu-Natal, appeared in the Howick Magistrate's Court on Friday.

He remained in custody and would be back on February 7 in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court where his case has been transferred to.

Last week, police arrested 11 men for a spate of ATM bombings in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Hawks were following up on information when they took the men, aged between 20 and 40, into custody on Sunday.

They were linked to ATM bombings in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

The last ATM was bombed in Howick. The men lived in a hostel in Soweto but were originally from KwaZulu-Natal.

After being questioned, the gang took the Hawks to a house at eManguze, south of Kosi Bay, on the border between South Africa and Mozambique in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Hawks found four firearms, including an AK47 rifle, nine explosive cables and a stolen bakkie. The vehicle was reported stolen in Booysens, Gauteng early January, he said.

Among those arrested was the son of a taxi owner in Gauteng.

The 11 men appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday and would join Dladla in his next appearance. - Sapa

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