By OBAKENG MAJE
Five suspects aged between 30 and 52, were arrested for business robberies, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The suspects were nabbed by a multi-disciplinary team comprising of Bojanala District Detective Task Team, Marikana Visible Policing, Vala Umgodi deployment, Rustenburg Crime Intelligence, Operational Command Centre Unit (OCCU), Sun City and Mogwase Detectives and Rustenburg Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) during a crime intelligence-driven operation on 18 and 19 April 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Amanda Funani said, the suspects were arrested after intelligence regarding a bolt driver, who was suspected to be using his two taxis to commit business robberies was received and operationalised. Funani said subsequently, the police allegedly traced and arrested a suspect (34) at Phokeng Township, near Rustenburg and a firearm was found inside his vehicle.
“The suspect admitted during questioning that he was involved in a business robbery committed last month in Sun City. Furthermore, he implicated four other suspects, who are Lesotho nationals and apparently in the country illegally.
“The four suspects were arrested on Friday morning at their residential places. Three of them were found in possession of unlicensed firearms, of which two were found to be replica firearms. Two cases of business robbery, four counts of contravention of Immigration Act, 2002 (No. 13 of 2002) and counts of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition were registered,” she said.
Funani further said the suspects are expected to appear before the Rustenburg, Mankwe and Bafokeng Magistrate’s Courts on different charges on Monday.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated all units involved for a sterling job that led to the arrests of the five suspects. Kwena also encouraged businessmen to report cases as it was discovered that, out of nine business robberies that the suspects allegedly committed, only two were reported to the police.
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