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280 terrorist bombs exploded in SA over the past six months
Daily cash-point bombs in SA claimed by black terrorist group  August 12 2007 -- South Africa - The Sowetan newspaper reports that a group founded by Plaatjie Mashego, a disgruntled former terrorist-operative of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation, the armed wing of the African National Congress during exile) has claimed responsibility for many of the clearly very-well organised recent explosions of cash-points countrywide, and which are spreading widespread terror in local communities.
Picture: there have been increasingly violent-protest actions against the ANC-regime all across South Africa, and this group's claim that it is blowing up cash points to highlight the plight of millions of homeless, unemployed black South Africans is entirely credibly, political analysts believe.
He said his organisation, the Malamulela Social Movement of the Unemployed, had resorted to targeting ATMs last year after 'efforts to speak to the government and the business sector about their severe unemployment problems were ignored.' He said the aim was "not really to collect money" but to destabilise the business sector. - His members were trained to make explosives such as dynamite which they used to blow up ATMs 'to make their point against the high levels of unemployment,' he said. He called on others who are now emulating them to join forces with them - also to avoid being injured through inexperience with explosives.
- http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=535427
Police have thus far this year arrested some 33 mine-employees for selling explosives used in blowing up the machines. Recent court evidence about an explosion in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg on July 10, revealed that a total of 280 ATMs were blown up around the country between January 1 and July 31, 2007 causing R62,4-million's worth of damage - excluding the money stolen. The alleged bombers were on trial after KwaZulu-Natal police shot and wounded them. Two of their alleged accomplices were shot dead in a shootout with the police after the explosion.
Mzwakhe Gule, 42, of Soweto, and Thabang Mohlomehlo, 26, of Clermont, Durban, have been charged with the murder of two of their alleged accomplices, Jabulani Mkhize and Anthony Hadebe, both of Pinetown. Gule and Mohlomehlo also face charges under the Explosives Act, possession of a R5 assault rifle, two handguns, ammunition for the three guns and theft of a Hyundai car.
Investigating officer Inspector Derek Coetzee said at the bail hearing that the Banking Council had told him that 280 ATMs were blown up in South Africa between January 1 and July 31. Coetzee said that Mohlomehlo was out on bail on a charge of being in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle when he took part in the bombing. He was fined R6 000, or 15 months in jail after being convicted of theft at Eshowe. He also had another theft conviction.
Magistrate Celumusa Ndwandwe adjourned proceedings to Thursday when she'll announce her decision on bail. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20070813040109305C543854
Financial world under siege: -
And authorities add fuel to the fire of public anger by trying to 'reassure' the country's 47-million crime-weary citizens that 'most of these cash-point bombs are being exploded in townships'. -
The bombings are striking fear into all of the country's citizens, already under siege and living in heavily-fortufied homes because of the sky-high crime rates, wherever they may be living and working. 57,612 people murdered in past three years... With the South African murder rate now eight times the world average, 57,162 people have already been murdered, mostly during robbies -- and 380,173 became victims of violent robberies, and a total of more than 2,5-million South African residents have already fallen victim to violence-driven crimes in the past three years alone. Police and banks fear that it would be only a matter of time before the dynamite cash-machine bombs kill bystanders: South Africans already often fall victim to robbery gangs firing indiscriminately into crowds during attacks on cash-transports. Terrorism: -
"The use of explosives and the indiscriminate bombings of ATMs can be regarded as terrorism," said Absa communications manager Errol Smith. -
"These bombers have no regard for the safety of the public nor regard for communities." Anton Wiid who heads Sabric's violent-crime office, claims that 'most of the attacks are taking place in township areas where banks have been putting up machines in an effort to cut travelling costs for customers who would otherwise have to head downtown."
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