More items recovered from alleged robbery trail

The police in Bela-Bela on Monday 6 January disclosed that more items have been recovered from an alleged trail of house robberies from which three suspects have been charged.

Investigating officer, Detective Frans Sekgobela, said a 308 semi-automatic rifle, an off-road motorbike, a power-supply generator and compressor were recovered, over and above other allegedly
stolen items.

The recovery of the items is a sequel to the arrest and subsequent court appearance of three suspects.

Sekgobela said the rifle was recovered at a house in the Limpopo town of Tzaneen, while the off-road motorbike, generator and compressor were traced to a house in the Gauteng hamlet of
Hammanskraal.

The three suspects are Hendrik Tshepiso Sebelebele (24), Simon Sipho Sebelebele (28) and Samuel Base Maphosa (25).

They are all expected to appear before the Bela-Bela Magistrate court on 3 February for bail application.

They first appeared in court on Friday 6 December, where they faced charges of armed robbery and theft.

The three men were surprised by a police patrol in Cyferskuil, south-west of Bela-Bela, during an operation in the month of December.

At the time Bela-Bela police spokesperson, Sergeant Frans Maponya, said the suspects were linked to a spate of robberies which occurred around Lehau and Langkuil, near Radium

They were allegedly found in possession of an allegedly stolen fence cutter, four TV sets, three laptops, a pellet gun, a rifle, three mobile phones and ammunition.

— The BEAT