By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A 50-year-old man appeared at Wolmaranstad Magistrate’s Court on Friday for house robbery, attempted murder, and theft of a motor vehicle. North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said Joseph Bernard Kulelaphi was arrested by police after he allegedly committed a crime on a farm in Leeudoringstad a week ago.
Myburgh said a farmer (77) was allegedly overpowered at his residential area after two suspects forced entry through a locked door. She added that during the ordeal, the victim was hit with a panga on his head and tied-up.
“The suspects took six firearms from a safe as well as a cellular phone and fled the scene with the farmer’s Mercedes Benz. The victim managed to free himself and pressed the alarm that alerted the police and emergency services.
“The police and emergency services personnel rush to the scene and found a farmer with serious head injuries. The victim was ferried to the hospital for medical attention. The stolen vehicle was found abandoned on the Leeudoringstad and Orkney road few hours later,” she said.
Myburgh said following an intensive investigation, a suspect was identified and subsequently traced and apprehended at his house on a farm in the Leeudoringstad on Wednesday. She said all six stolen firearms were recovered and police also found a .38 special revolver with a serial number filed off.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the police for a job well done and recovering the stolen firearms, which he said was likely to be used to commit serious and violent crimes.
Meanwhile, Kulelaphi was remanded in custody until Tuesday for formal bail application.
The Guardian 