NELSPRUIT – Mpumalanga police are investigating violent crimes that took place on 07 and 08 June 2020 at Vosman near Witbank.
In the first incident which took place on 07 June 2020, the complainant indicated that he was at home at Vosman around 19:00, when he suddenly heard a knock on the door. He went to check and found an unknown man standing at the door, holding a 25-litre container of diesel. He then asked the complainant to help him remove his refrigerator from his rented room as he claimed the landlord had kicked him out. He further told the victim that he would give him the diesel as payment for his services.
After the duo agreed to help each other, the complainant went inside the house to fetch the keys to his grey Ford Ranger bakkie with no registration number and on his return, he found a second man at the door but did not suspect anything as he was told the man was there to help them load the refrigerator. All three men got into the bakkie, drove off from the complainant’s house and approximately a few kilometres away, he (complainant) was pointed with a firearm by one of the men. He was then instructed to continue driving but managed to jump out of the vehicle. The suspects fired a few shots at him but missed.
In the second incident which also took place at Vosman on 08 June 2020, the complainant reported that he was waiting for his colleagues outside their workplace when suddenly someone banged on the window of the vehicle he was driving. He then looked up and saw three men who threatened him with a firearm and robbed him of the vehicle, an NP 200, white in colour with registration number HTS 215 MP.
In the third occurrence which also took place on 08 June 2020, police were called to murder and attempted murder scene which took place at extension 05. When they arrived at the scene, they found two men lying on the ground, one looked dead and the other was still alive. Police then summoned medical personnel, who certified one of the men died as a result of gunshot wounds. The other man was immediately taken to hospital for medical treatment. At the scene, police also found a Toyota bakkie which they suspected that the suspects might have had an intention to rob.
No one has been arrested in all these incidents and the Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma is requesting the community to help the police with information. In the same breath, General Zuma is warning the community not to expose themselves to danger by offering to help suspicious individuals with their property as this is not the first time unsuspecting victims were robbed of their vehicles, where the same modus operandi was used. “ I call on the community to be vigilant and check who they deal with and also refrain from feeling the need to assist even when it is not necessary, more especially during the night,” said General Zuma.
Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects in all these cases, is requested to contact Colonel One Thobejane at 0823722195. Members of the public can also call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or give a tip-off on the MySAPS app that can be downloaded onto any smartphone. Information can be given anonymously.