Police “Working Flat Out” To Bring Vumbunu Brothers Back Over $4 Million Heist

Police say they are “working flat out” to bring back the Vumbunu brothers from South Africa. They are accused of masterminding Zimbabwe’s biggest-ever cash heist.

So far, authorities have managed to extradite one suspect, 39-year-old Bhekani Mlilo, from Botswana. He appeared in court in Bulawayo last week and was remanded in custody until 5 December.

Speaking at a press briefing in Bulawayo on Wednesday, ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the legal process to extradite Abraham Temayi Vumbunu and Elijah Temayi Vumbunu from South Africa is still in progress. The two were arrested by South African police on 5 July.

The brothers, along with Mlilo, are accused of taking part in the dramatic armed robbery at an Ecobank branch in central Bulawayo on 3 October 2024, where a gang made off with cash boxes holding US$4 million.

At least seven men are believed to have carried out the robbery as Safeguard security guards were moving the cash out of the bank.

Police have also listed Simon Xola Ngcobo, Menzeli Mpofu, and a man known only as Khalid Ntimen as wanted for questioning.

A Safeguard supervisor who had been arrested after the heist was later released without charge. Said Nyathi:

“There are clear procedures and protocols to be followed. You can’t just take anybody without observing legal requirements.

“In South Africa, they have to appear before the courts there before being remanded to Zimbabwe.”

During Mlilo’s court appearance, prosecutors alleged that the gang didn’t just hit the Ecobank branch in the city centre but also targeted the Bradfield branch.

At the 9th Avenue and Fife Street branch, the gang allegedly grabbed cash boxes holding US$3,983,500, along with three firearms taken from Safeguard guards.

They also stole an extra cash box containing US$465,500 from the Bradfield branch, bringing the total haul to $4,449,000.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the Ford Ranger used in the robberies was registered to Nomsa Aneline Zingela and had been driven into Zimbabwe from South Africa.

The robbers are said to have swapped the South African number plates for fake Zimbabwean ones to prepare for the heist.

More: ZimLive