Law enforcement agencies have nabbed a number of criminals including arresting suspects believed to be a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery kingpin.
Police also activated a manhunt for suspects wanted in a mass shooting incident that left five people dead in North West.
North West provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Sello Kwena instructed detectives to leave no stone unturned to ensure the arrest of suspects who allegedly shot and killed five people at about 10pm on July 27 at Freedom Park Phase 1, near Rustenburg.
Provincial SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the victims – four men and a woman – were found along the street with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to their heads.
“At this stage, there is no information regarding the suspects except that they fled the scene driving in a white Toyota Quantum. According to information available at this stage, four of the victims were declared dead at the scene, while the fifth one died at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital,” said Mokgwabone.
He said the motive behind the incident was unknown and investigations were under way.
Meanwhile, three suspected CIT robbers were expected to appear in the Pretoria North and Temba Magistrate’s Courts on Monday on charges of CIT robbery, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition and possession of a hijacked motor vehicle.
It was reported that the suspects were arrested on July 24 in an intelligence-driven multidisciplinary operation by the members of Tactical Operations Management Section in collaboration with the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Klipgat and Pretoria North Local Criminal Records Centre.
The suspects, aged 69, 39 and 37, were arrested at several locations around Makapanstad.
The team also recovered a rifle with its serial number filed off, two vehicles – a white Peugeot and a silver Audi A4 – which was purported to have been used in criminal activities.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the firearm will be sent for ballistic testing to ascertain its involvement in other crimes in the Pretoria area.
“The suspects have been identified as being sought for cases in Akasia and Makapanstad. Police are not ruling out the possibility of more suspects being arrested. Investigation is continuing,” said Mogale.
In another incident, in North West, a disruptive operation conducted between July 23 and 24 in and around Klerksdorp by Vehicle Crime Investigation (VCI) units led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of five vehicles.
In one of the cases, Hugo Stevenson, 49, appeared in court after being arrested in Collerville, Klerksdorp, on July 23, for possession of a suspected stolen Chevrolet Aveo vehicle which was reported stolen in June 2023. The matter was postponed to Monday, July 29, for bail application.
North West SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Funani said that in Stilfontein, Nadjibo Bugimirabagabo, 44, and Elvis Emanuel were arrested on charges of truck hijacking and kidnapping committed on the N12 near Stilfontein earlier this month.
The truck was recovered in addition to the groceries. The accused appeared in court last Thursday.
Funani said the suspects remain in custody until August 1 for bail application.
In a separate case in Klerksdorp, Rapuseletso Leepile, 45, appeared in court last Thursday in connection with perjury.
Funani said this was after Leepile allegedly opened a false case earlier this month that his Ford Fiesta was hijacked. The matter against him was postponed to August 6 for further investigation.
She said the vehicle was linked to a business robbery allegedly committed in Orkney earlier this month.
“The operation also resulted in the confiscation of Toyota Etios and Nissan NP200 vehicles, which were found abandoned near a mall in Jouberton. Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicles’ engines were tampered with. In addition, the Toyota Etios was linked with theft of a motor vehicle case reported in February 2023, in Roodepoort, Gauteng province,” said Funani.
Commissioner Kwena expressed gratitude to the members for the successes.
Meanwhile, Free State SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thabo Covane said weekly high-density deployment operations as part of Operation Shanela were in full swing in the Mangaung Metro.
Covane said a briefing was given for crime intelligence driven actions across the district last Friday.
Colonel Edward Kruger instructed the joint parade, where the Home Affairs Department collaborated with the SAPS to execute various operational concepts with focus on stop and searches, to intercept suspects with break-in implements to prevent cable theft, theft out of motor vehicle and burglaries; arrest suspects and seize illegal/prohibited firearms and ammunition as well as illicit drugs.
He said policing actions will also be directed at preventing the distribution of contraband goods and enforcing the National Road Traffic Act 93/96 and arresting undocumented persons.
Members of the Tactical Response Team received and operationalised intelligence in the Mangaung policing precinct.
A Silver Ford Ranger with three occupants was identified and searched in Maphisa Road, Phahameng, near Bloemfontein.
The police team busted the three suspects, aged 36, 50 and 26, in possession of 576 star-etched mandrax tablets.
Covane said the street value of the seized drugs was estimated at R32 000.
“A case docket of possession of drugs was opened and the suspects detained in police custody. The motor vehicle used for drug trafficking was also booked into the Evidence Management System.”
Covane said policing actions continued in the Kagisanong police station area and six undocumented persons were arrested. Two drivers were arrested for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating substance in terms of the National Road Traffic Act 93/96.
Covane confirmed that all suspects will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court this week.
Last Friday, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Intervention and Community Liaison Unit (CLU) officers nabbed a female suspect for the possession and possible dealing in illicit substances in the Eden Park area.
Members received information from a source of a house on Umbrella Street in Greenfield, Eden Park, where drugs were suspected of being sold.
Members acted swiftly on the information and the house in question was visited.
On arrival, they found a female suspect who then allowed the officers to come in and search the house.
EMPD spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Kelebogile Thepa said upon searching the house, the officers found 280 mandrax tablets, 21 ziplocks of crystal meth and 17 packets of cat.
“The suspect was arrested and taken to Eden Park SAPS where she was charged with possession and possible dealing in illicit substances,” she said.
The illicit substances were confiscated and booked under the SAP13 at Eden Park SAPS.
The suspect will appear at the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court soon.
The Star