KLERKSDORP – Four suspects are set to appear once more in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 17 July 2024, following their initial court appearance on Wednesday, 10 July 2024. Thembinkosi Mbatha (30), Motsaathebe Kopano (51), Gareng Dikgang (35), and Fikile Darala (51) were apprehended by members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT) on Monday, 08 July 2024, for alleged unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The arrest unfolded when TRT officers, conducting routine patrol in Klerksdorp, spotted a Toyota Condor suspected to have been involved in a recent business robbery in Ottosdal. The occupants of the vehicle reportedly discarded a firearm before coming to a stop, prompting the officers to initiate a search. During the operation, a loaded magazine containing eight rounds of ammunition and two police appointment cards belonging to Motsaathebe Kopano, a former police officer dismissed several years ago, were discovered. Subsequently, all four occupants were placed under arrest.
Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, spokesperson for the North West Police, emphasized the seriousness of the charges against the accused and did not rule out the possibility of additional charges as investigations progress.
In a related incident within Klerksdorp, authorities are pursuing a separate case of armed robbery. On Friday, 12 July 2024, a man and three accomplices allegedly entered a retail store at Matlosana Mall around 3:00 PM. The group purportedly stole cell phones and cash before attempting to flee on foot. Quick intervention by mall security and TRT personnel led to the arrest of one suspect, with all stolen cell phones subsequently recovered.
Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended the vigilance and swift response of law enforcement officers involved in both operations. He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of security personnel in combating crime within the region.
Investigations into both cases are ongoing as authorities work towards bringing all responsible parties to justice.