A gang of six men struck twice at a farm in Kokstad in two weeks.
After the second incident, on Tuesday, February 14, police arrested the men, aged between 40 and 42, for attempting to rob a couple on the farm in Kokstad.
They have been charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, impersonating a police officer and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They will appear today (Friday) in the Kokstad Magistrate’s Court.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the farmer alleged that he and his wife were at their farm when they were accosted by armed men who attempted to rob them of their belongings.
He managed to call for help and the gang fled the scene in their getaway vehicle.
The police together with other law enforcement agencies followed up on information which led to the arrest of the men in different areas.
When the men spotted police and security guard vehicles approaching, they opened fire and a shoot-out ensued.
They drove in different directions, others heading to Kokstad and Harding areas, but they were apprehended.
Three vehicles were searched, police reflector jackets, 58 rounds of ammunition and four unlicensed firearms including two rifles and two pistols were recovered.
Two of the recovered firearms belong to the complainant. No-one was injured during the shoot-out.
Preliminary police investigations have confirmed that the men posed as police officers and robbed the same family on Tuesday, February 7.
They accosted them, demanded cash, and took two firearms and drove away in their getaway vehicle. A case of robbery was opened at Franklin police station for investigation.
The firearms will be taken for ballistics testing to ascertain if they were not used in commission of a crime.
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