Zimbabweans, most wanted criminals in South Africa

South African police are hunting for four of the country's most dangerous and prolific bank robbery suspects, three of whom are allegedly part of a brazen gang.

Today, police named and released photographs of the four, as part of the Crime Line anti-crime campaign, a partnership between the police and Primedia, the Cape Argus's partner in the LeadSA campaign.

The suspects are: Bongani Mojo, 29, and Khumbulani "KB" Sibanda, 37, and Victor Baloyi. The fourth's name is not known; he goes by the nickname "Ogies". He is suspected of being an accomplice of Mojo and Sibanda.

Baloyi is wanted in connection with a cash-in-transit robbery and murder relating to an incident at a Sasol garage on the R511 outside Pretoria in August.

Mojo, Sibanda and Ogies are Zimbabweans and all four are described by Gauteng police spokesman Neville Malila as "highly dangerous".

Police have linked the three Zimbabweans to scores of bank robberies. Mojo alone is wanted in connection with 34 bank robberies since 2006.

Mojo and Sibanda were arrested last year on multiple charges, including armed robbery with aggravated circumstances, but escaped from Boksburg Prison on March 28 after cutting through the bars of their cell and breaking through bricks using what Boksburg Correctional Services spokes-man Patrick Thobejane called "handmade tools".

He said prison officials had no idea how the men had made their tools, nor where the materials had come from.

Mojo had also been charged with escaping from police custody during a previous incarceration.

Prison officials fear the men may try to flee to Zimbabwe.

Yesterday in Pretoria, police believe, the gang was responsible for yet another heist, allegedly the sixth since their escape.

Malila said their target had been an Absa bank in Monument. "Their modus operandi is always the same. Three will go into the bank and one stays outside to prevent anyone from coming in. They hold up the tellers, and are out in 10 to 15 minutes.

"They don't even wear balaclavas," he said.

Malila said the men were "highly dangerous criminals", and that anyone who saw them should avoid confronting them and rather contact the police.

The Western Cape's former top cop, now the Gauteng police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mzwandile Petros, said: "We appeal to the public to keep their eyes and ears open and to assist us in apprehending these suspects.

"There is someone out there knows these suspects and their whereabouts. Don't approach them.

"Do the right thing and give us detailed information and we will act.

"Submit the information via Crime Line's 3-22-11 SMS service or on www.crimeline. co.za Alternatively, call the 24-hour Crime Stop number 08600 10111."

Almost 1 050 people have been arrested for various crimes since the launch of Crime Line in June 2007.

"This is a clear indication that Crime Line is effective and is a reliable and trustworthy source to pass on information anonymously.

"There are no comebacks.

"Crime Line doesn't want your name and all cellphone numbers are deleted automatically," said the head of Crime Line, Yusuf Abramjee.

The SAPS has also appealed to the public to keep these photographs handy.

They are also available on the Crime Line website and Facebook page.