HARARE – South African police have arrested two men from the Vumbunu crime family of Bulawayo, both suspects in the October 2024 armed robbery outside an Ecobank during which $4 million was seized.
Abraham Temayi Vumbunu and Elijah Temayi Vumbunu were taken into custody in Johannesburg on July 5, police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement.
“The due processes of the law are now taking effect for the suspects’ extradition to Zimbabwe. Police are still pursuing the arrest of other suspects who are linked to this case,” Nyathi said.
Both men are well known to the police alongside their brother, Tonderai. Police previously named Elijah among their seven most wanted criminals.
Elijah is wanted for a string of high profile armed robberies, including the October 2022 heist in which a How Mine convoy carrying 11.9kg gold was ambushed near Bulawayo.
Police say the brothers – originally from Bulawayo – live in South Africa and make forays into Zimbabwe to commit robberies.
In the Ecobank robbery, a van from Safeguard Security was picking up cash boxes from the bank’s branch at the National Railways of Zimbabwe building on Fife Street and 9th Avenue in Bulawayo when six armed robbers in a Ford Ranger pulled up with guns drawn at around 3.30PM.
Afternoon shoppers took videos and pictures as the armed robbers who wore face masks and bucket hats casually loaded boxes full of cash onto the open cargo bay of the white Ford Ranger single cab vehicle before it sped off.
The robbery – the biggest cash heist in Zimbabwean history – lasted just 149 seconds.
