The bail application of seven persons detained for alleged links to the August 11 cash-in-transit heist in which R8,000 in coins were stolen from a Fidelity truck has been postponed by the Tonga Magistrate’s Court.

On Tuesday the court postponed the matter to Monday next week, remanding the seven arrested men in custody.

Spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said the seven men want to be released on bail.

“The Hawks are opposing the application of the group of criminals. The case was postponed to Monday, September 11, for further cross-examination of the defence. All accused were remanded in custody,” said Sekgotodi.

Four of the accused men are police officers who were arrested on August 17 in Malelane, Mpumalanga, after police investigated information about a Police Service Flying Squad van trafficking illegal firearm.

Following their arrest, the four police officers were added to the list of three suspects already detained for the same offence.

Sekgotodi said the four members of the SAPS are highway patrol police sergeants — Collen Suprian Nonyane, 44, Sunday Peace Mashego, 39, Sibusiso Musa Vilakazi, 38, and Bhekinkosi Stanley Godi, 39.

“During their arrest for possession of illegal firearms, one of the firearms was found to have been stolen from Malelane during the cash-in-transit robbery,” said Sekgotodi.

The four police sergeants have been charged with taxi driver Mosa Bhekifa Ngwenyama, 30, spaza shop cashier Malawian national Ali Obi Ebrahim, 24, and Mfanasibili Lawrence Lubisi, 44.

According to the Hawks, Lubisi is a messenger for the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development and the owner of the property where police recovered many goods, including two stolen vehicles, a Ford Ranger Wildtrak and a Mercedes-Benz ML350.

Last Monday, the Hawks in Mpumalanga announced a manhunt for an additional suspect in the August 11 cash-in-transit crime. Zola Martin Mnisi, 29, of Swalala Trust , is allegedly related to the crime, according to Sekgotodi.