Nelspruit: 16 October 2023 - Four suspects aged between 18 and 26 are expected to appear at the Graskop Magistrate's Court today, 16 October 2023 after their arrest for possession of a reportedly hijacked vehicle and unlicenced firearm. Police also recovered a replica fiream. The four suspects were nabbed in Graskop on Saturday, 14 October 2023 at about 11h00 am.
Information was provided by a whistleblower about a suspicious car, a Ford Figo which was driving from Sabie heading towards Graskop. Members acted swiftly on the information and intercepted the vehicle which was occupied by four people. Police searched the said car and it was during this time when the astute members discovered a handgun with its serial numbers filed off. The members also found a dummy fiream inside the car.
The suspects were charged for possession of a reportedly hijacked vehicle as well as for possession of a firearm.
The confiscated firearm will undergo ballistic testing to determine if it was not previously used in the commission of crime.
Preliminary investigation has since revealed that the vehicle was hijacked in Hazyview the previous day, Friday 13 October 2023. It is further alleged that during the hijacking of the vehicle, the victim was assaulted and tied up against the tree before suspects fled with his car.
Currently Police cannot rule out possibilities of adding more charges against the suspects, including the hijacking saga.
The arrest of the suspects as a result of partnership between Police and the community has been welcomed as well as commended by the SAPS in Mpumalanga.