7 arrested in two joint operations in Lephalale cluster

LIMPOPO – A joint operation comprised of members of SAPS Bela-Bela, Pienaarsrivier, Modimolle Public Order Police(POP) Unit, the Lephalale Community Police Forum and a tracker company managed to arrest five armed suspects between the age of 30 and 43,

The arrests were made on 4 February on the R101 near Pienaarsrivier, after a business robbery took place at a retail store in Lephalale earlier today.

Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe said in a statement that a manhunt ensued after they were notified. A private helicopter helped with the search operations and managed to locate a minibus, which matched the same description as the getaway vehicle, passing Bela-Bela towards Pretoria.

The minibus was pulled over and searched while the occupants were arrested. Cellphones to the estimated value of R100 000 (believed to be from the retail store) and two 9mm pistols with 27 live rounds and two magazines were recovered.

The suspects will appear before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of possession of firearms and ammunition without license and possession of suspected stolen properties. They will then also appear in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on a charge of business robbery.

Meanwhile, still in the Lephalale cluster, two suspects (both aged 31) were arrested in the early hours of Monday, a few kilometers away from shops at Phahladira section in the Ga-Shongwane area. This after a business robbery took place at one of the shops and the SAPS K9 Unit as well as members of the Lephalale Community Police Forum followed the crime syndicate.

Ngoepe said the suspects did not cooperate and started shooting to which the police retaliated and injured one of them. The injured suspect was taken to hospital and is recuperating under police guard. One firearm, eight rounds of ammunition and cash, believed to be from the robbed business, was recovered during this operation.

Both will soon appear before the Phalala Magistrate’s Court on charges of business robbery, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The suspects in both cases may be connected to other cases in the Lephalale cluster and across Limpopo.

Police investigations are ongoing.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba has lauded these SAPS members and the community based crime prevention structures. He thanked the Community Police Forums who went an extra mile to volunteer the helicopter to track these suspects until they were apprehended.