The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Zithulele Dladla has expressed appreciation for the sterling work of the Cedarville, Maluti and Matatiele Police officers, who arrested four (4), dangerous male suspects, within minutes after robbing a Post Office of an undisclosed amount of money on Wednesday morning, 15 September 2021 in Cedarville.
According to the information, five (5) male suspects aged between 28 and 39 burst into the Cedarville post office pretending to be customers. They threatened the security guard at gunpoint and further took his firearm before pushing him inside the post office. They allegedly pointed firearms at customers and employees of the post office whilst one of them jumped over the counter and demanded money. After taking the money, the suspects drove away.
They were spotted by a police officer who was approaching the post office for a routine visit and he was alerted to the incident by bystanders. The suspects started firing shots as they drove away and the SAPS member retaliated and called for backup assistance.
During the chase, members of the SAPS managed to stop the suspects’ vehicle and all four suspects were subsequently arrested whilst the other one jumped out of the vehicle and escaped towards Matatiele Magistrate Courts in town, shooting randomly and towards police officers. There was an exchange of gunfire between the police and the suspect which left the suspect fatally wounded. As the suspect was shooting randomly in town, about four (4) bystanders were seriously injured and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention including the fourth suspect who also sustained gunshot injuries during the shooting with the police.
A total of four firearms were recovered. Cases of Business Robbery, Possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and attempted murder have been registered for investigation. The arrested suspects are expected to appear in Matatiele and Maluti Magistrate Courts once they are charged. Investigation Continues.