A 20-year-old man will appear in the Qumbu Magistrates Court today on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm at Upper Chulunca A/A Machibini following his arrest on Sunday, 02 September 2018 at about 09h00. Police followed up on information when they found the suspect in possession of a 9mm pistol.
Two men, aged 28 and 31 years, were arrested by Mthatha Police following an armed robbery at a retail chain store in Mthatha last night, 02 September 2018 at about 21h00.
It is alleged that three unknown gunmen entered the shop and pretended to be customers and when they approached the tills they pointed the tellers with firearms and fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
Police gave chase, cornered and arrested two armed suspects at Fortgale and at Napgen Street at about 22h00. The third suspect managed to escape the arrest with the money.
Two 9mm pistols with 24 rounds of ammunition and their Citi Golf were confiscated.
The suspects will be appearing in the Mthatha Magistrate Court today facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearms, unlawful possession of ammunition and business robbery.
The investigation will also focus on whether the suspects are linked with other business robberies and the firearms will undergo forensic testing.
“I commend all members involved in the arrest for your swift action. We must not give criminals space in our society,” said the Acting Cluster Commander Brigadier Nomawethu Makonza.