Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene commends the dedicated task team for the exemplary arrest of five robbery suspects conclusively linked to a series of cases committed in the Joe Gqabi District.
Once the threat of house/business robberies were identified, the Acting District Commissioner of Joe Gqabi district, Brigadier Asogran Naidoo established a task team to hunt down the suspects involved.
On Saturday18 November at 21:00 and on Sunday morning at 04:00, the task team in Sterkspruit followed up on information received of Lesotho nationals at a house at Makhetheng who had robbed a house/shop at Thaba Lesoba (Cathberg). At about 23:30, the information was operationalised and as the team swooped in on them, they found five men entering the house carrying bags. Three were armed with firearms. The men were arrested.
On searching the bags, groceries and tobacco were found. Members also found a lot of other groceries hidden under the bed, inside cupboards and in the wardrobes.
The suspects aged between 23 and 37 were arrested and will be charged on various crimes including illegal possession of firearms, possession of suspected stolen property, illegal possession of ammunition and possession of dagga.
Another suspect, linked to this group was arrested on Monday, 13 November 2023, after a shootout with a security guard during a business robbery in Sterkspruit.
The suspects are wanted on a number of cases for house/business robberies, murder and attempted murder at Palmietfontein and Sterkspruit.
Detectives are busy probing other cases where they may also possibly link these suspects to more cases in Sterkspruit and surrounding station areas. The three firearms will be sent to ballistics for analysis.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mene has commended the task team for their unwavering commitment to public safety. ‘Through their meticulous investigation, excellent informer network and collaboration, the team worked swiftly and tirelessly to arrest these suspects. Not only have these suspects been arrested, three firearms and suspected stolen goods were also confiscated. This achievement underscores our commitment to ensuring that the reign of criminals are halted while making sure that our communities are safe,’ added Lieutenant General Mene.
House robbers arrested in Sterkspruit https://t.co/mxJmW5mczy#ArriveAlive #HouseRobbers #Arrested @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/2qiZR7sj1S
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) November 20, 2023