A 52-year-old Lesotho national has been arrested after police allegedly found him in possession of dye-stained banknotes believed to be linked to a series of ATM bombings in the Bojanala Platinum District.
The suspect was arrested in Seraleng, near Rustenburg, after North West police acted on a tip-off regarding individuals who had allegedly deposited dye-stained banknotes into several bank accounts across the district.
North West police spokesperson Constable Thuto Bobelo said investigations, conducted in collaboration with bank investigators, established a link between the suspicious deposits and a specific bank account.
“Acting on further intelligence, members of the Bojanala Crime Intelligence Unit, together with the Brits Trio Task Team (TRT), conducted a tactical operation at a residence in Seraleng, near Boitekong.
“During the operation, police searched the premises and discovered dye-stained banknotes, which the suspect was unable to account for,” said Bobelo.
Police believe the arrest could be linked to a number of ATM bombings in the Bojanala Platinum District. Investigators also seized clothing from the suspect’s residence, which will undergo forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
Bobelo said investigators are pursuing additional leads and expect to identify more suspects connected to the case.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 July 2026, on a charge of possession of dye-stained banknotes.
The arrest comes weeks after at least six heavily armed suspects bombed an ATM and a safe at a filling station along the R510 in Paardekraal, Rustenburg, on 2 July 2026 before fleeing the scene.
In a separate incident, police responded to a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery at the Olympia Park traffic circle in Rustenburg on 10 July 2026. Heavily armed suspects allegedly used explosives to blow open a cash vehicle before escaping with an undisclosed amount of money.
Police have not yet confirmed whether the latest arrest is directly linked to either of the recent attacks, but investigations are continuing.
