The preliminary investigation revealed that those arrested today, aged 24 and 28, are wanted in connection with several business robberies in both the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
Police in Limpopo have arrested Four suspects linked to filling station and Police robbery which happened on Sunday 21 June 2020 in Apel near Lebowakgomo.
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla John Sitole has welcomed the arrest of the four.
According to Police, the Limpopo Provincial Police implemented the 72-hour Activation Plan immediately after the attack on four police members who were on patrol at the Apel shopping centre in two vehicles.
Three members were wounded and robbed of four firearms and the suspects also made off with undisclosed amount of money which they stole from the filing station. The three members were hospitalised, two for treatment of gunshot wounds and the other as a result of having been assaulted.
Two members have since been discharged and the member still in hospital is reported to be in a stable condition. The necessary resources needed to investigate and trace the suspects were mobilised, including the province’s Crime Intelligence members.
According to Police, in a matter of a few hours after the incident, intelligence led the police to Mohlaletse Village where they initially arrested two suspects and recovered three vehicles.
On Friday morning, Crime Intelligence gave information on the location of two more suspects to the Tracking Team and Highway Patrol. The suspects were found at their hideout in Moroke Village in the Mecklenburg policing precinct. During the arrest, the police also recovered three of the firearms which were taken from the police officers during the robbery.
The preliminary investigation revealed that those arrested today, aged 24 and 28, are wanted in connection with several business robberies in both the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
They will be joining their accomplices, 25-year-old Thulani Maseko and Moses Zulu aged 36, who are currently in custody awaiting their formal bail application scheduled for 2 July 2020. Maseko and Zulu have been charged with four counts of attempted murder, robbery of firearms, business robbery and four counts of malicious injury to property.
These two suspects will make their first appearance in court within 48 hours to face the same charges as Maseko and Zulu including an additional charge of contravening the Immigration Act. The investigating team is expecting to make more arrests soon.
The National Commissioner has commended the team for working around the clock to ensure that the people responsible for the attack on police and for the commission of trio crimes in the province are traced and apprehended.
I am glad that four of the people allegedly responsible for undermining the authority of the State are facing the full might of the law. Investigators of this case will be opposing bail in court and they must also not rest until they recover the one remaining firearm.