An intelligence-driven operation carried out by police members from Tonga, Crime Intelligence and the SANDF led to the arrest of four suspects between the ages of 23 and 52 in Tonga on Monday July 25.
A provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said law enforcement agencies received information about a man who was in possession of a firearm, a hand grenade and suspected stolen properties at a house in Tonga.
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“Upon arrival at the house, they conducted a search and managed to recover an unlicensed firearm, one magazine, six rounds of live ammunition, a hand grenade and police-branded pepper spray. A man was arrested.
“A further probe by the police led them to two other houses in Block A and Block C where they recovered suspected stolen items and arrested three more suspects.
“All four suspects were charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and a hand grenade, and possession of suspected stolen properties,” said Mohlala.
He said one of the suspects, Solomon Sambo, has already appeared in the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in custody. He will appear again today, Thursday July 28, in the same court for a formal bail application.
The other three suspects have not appeared and are still in custody for further investigation.
The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, applauded the members for their swift reaction in apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to book.
She also appreciated the community for working with the police to fight crime.
