| 2020/11/06 |
Media Statement
KING WILLIAM’S TOWN - As part of crime stabilisation and dealing with acts of criminality at identified areas, OR Tambo District members arrested four (4) suspects and seized five (5) firearms in two separate robbery incidents yesterday, 5 November 2020. Two men aged 33 and 43 were arrested after they allegedly robbed a shop in Libode yesterday at about 17h30. It is alleged that two (02) suspects entered the shop whilst the other two (02) stood outside. The two (02) suspects inside the shop demanded money and the car keys from the manager at gunpoint. Libode Vispol members responded to the complaint and the suspects fired several shots at police who retaliated, causing the suspects to leave behind some of the money, an AK47 assault rifle with no rounds and a 9mm pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition. The manager's vehicle which was used as a getaway car was found abandoned at Ntlaza. An intensive search was launched and two (2) suspects were traced at a local hospital with bullet wounds. They were arrested and are in hospital under police guard. Two (02) 9mm pistols were also seized. In another unrelated incident, swift police response led to the arrest of two (02) suspects allegedly involved in an armed robbery at a local shop in Qumbu yesterday. It is alleged that at about 17:30, about five (05) armed suspects arrived at the shop whilst the manager was busy with cashiers in the office. They pointed them with firearms and demanded the money. Qumbu Vispol members responded and arrested two (02) men, both 26 years old whilst the other three (03) hid in the ceiling. One of the suspects, approximately 33 years fell from the ceiling and died and the other two (02) managed to escape with money. A 9mm pistol with 10 rounds of ammunition was seized. The suspects will appear in the Qumbu Magistrate Court on Monday, 9 November 2020 on charges of business robbery and illegal possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Major General Tembisile Patekile lauded members for their efforts which resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the seizure of firearms. “We, the SAPS are on the heels of those suspects who managed to evade arrest. It is only a matter of time before we arrest them. The proliferation of illegal firearms minimises the commission of serious and violent crimes,’ added Maj Gen Patekile. Ends
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