Nelspruit: 03 October 2023 - Two suspects, a 39 year old male and a 32 year old female are expected to appear before Delmas District Court tomorrow, Wednesday 04 October 2023 for allegedly pointing a firearm and assaulting two victims in front of the police yesterday, Monday 02 October, 2023 in Delmas. The suspects, who are believed to be siblings as they share the same surname also attacked police when attending to a complaint.
According to information, three police officials were busy with their normal patrol duties when they received a complaint that two suspects in a Hyundai sedan pointed them with a firearm. Police took the victims who identified the vehicle in Delpark ext 2 next to a liquor outlet at about 16:30. Members managed to pull over the vehicle with a male driver and a female passenger.
When police enquired about the firearm, it is alleged that the passenger became violent, alighted from the vehicle and assaulted the victims in front of the police. Police managed to ease the commotion and the driver sped off with the vehicle.
Few minutes later the driver returned. When asked about the firearm, he attacked one of the male police officer. The female also attacked the female police officer, assaulted her with fists and tearing the member's uniform. The driver allegedly discharged two shots, but police managed to restrain the driver whilst the passenger fled the scene on foot.
Police managed to retrieve the firearm and arrested the driver. The firearm was found with four rounds of ammunition. The suspect was arrested for pointing of fiream, discharging the firearm in municipal area, assault and attack on police officers. Investigation led to the arrest of the female passenger this afternoon, Tuesday 03 September 2023 at about 16:00.
Both suspects are expected to appear in court tomorrow Wednesday 04 October 2023. The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the attack on police officers and the number of firearms circulating in the province.