Picture: One of the firearms confiscated by police/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
Six Lesotho nationals aged between 22 and 33 were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property, as well as charges relating to contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002. The suspects were arrested at COVID-19 and Sondela Informal Settlements in Boitekong Township, outside Rustenburg.
The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said their arrests came after the police received a tip-off regarding allegations of suspects involved in a spate of robberies. Mokgwabone further said during the arrests, the police allegedly searched and seized three unlicensed firearms, including one with a filed off serial number, 79 ammunition, 28 different cell phones.
“The police also seized the flash machines, plastics containing coins, plasma television, a scale, two magazines, several pairs of shoes/sneakers, a variety of clothes, cigarettes, bedding set and cash amounting to R24 200.
“The police investigations are underway and we cannot rule out the possibility of bringing to book additional suspects and linking the arrested ones with more cases. All the suspects, including a woman (24), are expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on 22 December 2023,” he said.
Mokgwabone added that, in an endeavour to address aggravated robberies in line with one of the focus areas of the safer festive season operation Shanela, the suspects were arrested by a multi-disciplinary team comprising of Phokeng K9, Rustenburg Tactical Response Team (TRT), Rustenburg Crime Intelligence, District Operational Crime Combatting (OCCU), District Detective Task Team, Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Investigation, Rustenburg Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), Crime Scene Investigation and Royal Bafokeng Security (RBP) on 20 December 2023.
Meanwhile, he North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the police for their continued efforts to fight crime and sending out a clear message that the long arm of the law will neither be selective nor kind to those who commit crime.
He also thanked members of the community for their cooperation with the police to dismantle syndicates.
The Guardian 