The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, has vowed to intensify the drive to disarm criminals and getting rid of all the illegal firearms in their possession.
“Most robberies are committed with firearms that are circulating in the wrong hands. We will, therefore, intensify our efforts to remove firearms from criminals,” he said.
A 19-year-old suspect was apprehended after he had allegedly robbed a clothing outlet at Lowveld Mall, Hazyview, at gunpoint on Friday July 12.
According to the police report, the suspect allegedly entered the clothing shop pretending to be a customer. He allegedly selected some items from the shelves and proceeded to the cashier.
The police reported that the items were valued at about R10 000. The suspect attempted to pay with a bank card, but the transaction would not go through.
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He pretended to sort out the problem with his card on his phone. As the cashier was still waiting, the suspect took out a firearm, grabbed the items and fled the scene on foot.
The store manager chased after him, and he was cornered shortly afterwards with the assistance of the mall security. He was found with the clothing items and the firearm.
Another two suspects were arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm with its serial number filed off in Ermelo, also on Friday July 12. The police responded to a tip-off about these two suspects in a silver Audi A4.
They spotted the vehicle and signalled for the driver to pull over, but he allegedly sped off, and a high-speed chase ensued.
The driver crossed a stop sign, which resulted in a collision with a GWM double-cab bakkie that had the right of way. Both the Audi’s occupants were cornered, and the police searched the vehicle and found a firearm with its serial number filed off.
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Mkhwanazi, who had already met with the Mpumalanga premier, Mandla Ndlovu, and the MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, in a session meant to come up with crime fighting strategies in the province, stressed that most violent crimes were committed with illegal firearms.
He further said the police will intensify their efforts to remove firearms from criminals.
