Picture: Five suspects nabbed for attempted murder in Kuruman/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Five suspects aged 24 and 47 were arrested by the police in Northern Cape for attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, kidnapping, resisting arrest, and failure to stop a vehicle on a reasonable instruction of a police officer. According to Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police dealt tactically with a dangerous situation in Kuruman on 18 June 2023, following a reported murder case in Maruping village, near Kuruman.
“The police were on the trail of suspects, who were allegedly involved in the murder of a man (42) in the early hours of Sunday morning in Maruping village.
“The SAPS Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Flying Squad members under the Command of Captain Chumani Yono, were mobilised in order to effect the arrests,” said Sam.
He further said, the police traced the suspects along the Mothibistad road while in transit and stopped their vehicle. Sam added that, however, the suspects failed to adhere to police instructions and sped off.
“The police gave a chase and one of the occupants in the suspect’s vehicle was spotted pointing an object resembling a firearm at the police. A shoot-out ensued that brought the suspects’ vehicle to a halt and one occupant was wounded.
“During a thorough search of the vehicle, the police discovered two more occupants in the boot, who were believed to be the murder suspects the police were tracing,” he said.
Sam said one suspect, who was wounded, later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. He said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“All suspects will appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court soon. The management of the police is committed to the enhancement of service delivery in crime combatting initiatives, the reaction time and apprehension of perpetrators in medium to the high-risk incidence of crime,” said Sam.
Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General Mmantsheke Lekhele applauded the police for their swift response and the tactical manner, in which they approached the situation without any police being injured.
The Guardian 