Mpumalanga robbery suspect nabbed after pursuit

A 45-year-old suspect was arrested shortly after a business robbery was reported at a Carolina, Mpumalanga, chain store on Tuesday.

According to Colonel Donald Mdhluli, a provincial police spokesperson, four suspects held the store’s employees at gunpoint while stealing cash, cellphones and other items.

A fifth person was reportedly waiting in a grey VW Polo, in which the suspects fled.

“The White River Flying Squad, White River K9 Unit, a tracking company and private security companies engaged in pursuing the suspects,” Mdhluli says.

The vehicle was spotted in Mbombela and, with the SAPS hot on their heels, the suspects drove towards Mataffin and crashed into a brick wall before coming to a stop.

“It is further reported that the suspects tried to fire shots at the law enforcers.”

One of the suspects was injured during the shoot-out.

He was arrested and charged accordingly and is in hospital under police guard.

The other four suspects got away.

Further investigations revealed that the getaway vehicle had reportedly been stolen after a house robbery in Modimolle, Limpopo, earlier this month.

The arrestee is expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court soon, on charges of attempted murder and possession of suspected stolen property, including the vehicle and the items stolen during the Carolina business robbery.

He is also expected to appear in the Carolina Magistrate’s Court on allegations of business robbery.

“The police cannot rule out the possibility of additional charges being laid against the suspect as the investigation continues, including the house robbery in Modimolle,” says Mdhluli.