Members arrest robbery suspects meanwhile two suspected stolen vehicles recovered

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the arrest of two suspects for robbery as well as for the recovery of two vehicles, both incidents occurred at Delmas.

In the first incident, two suspects, aged 27 and 28 years old were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, 30 March 2022. It is said that three security guards were on duty at the main gate of Thaba Chweu Mine in Delmas when they saw two vehicles with Gauteng registration number plates, a single cab Nissan LDV, as well as a Nissan double cab LDV coming from the mine and the cars, were then stopped by the guards. Three armed suspects then reportedly got out of the vehicles and pointed at the guards. The suspects are said to have tied the hands of their victims with cables whereby a guard, as well as the supervisor, were assaulted with a firearm after failing to comply with their demands.

Other guards from a different section of the mine became suspicious and then alerted the police. Police at Delmas responded and upon their arrival, two suspects who are originally from Zimbabwe were cornered meanwhile other suspects fled the scene to evade the arrest. The members also recovered diesel pumps and connectors in the vehicles, about 1 000 liters of diesel that belongs to the mine. The two suspects were arrested and charged with a business robbery. The suspects were found not in possession of passports hence police are working with the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain their status in the country. More charges with regard to a contravention of the Immigration Act may be added to the suspects.

The suspects are expected to appear before the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on 01 April 2022 facing the said charges.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, 29 March 2022 members from Delmas SAPS were patrolling on the N12. They then noticed a white Toyota Quantum with Mpumalanga registration number plates as well as a white Ford Bantam also with Mpumalanga registration number plates, both parked. When they noticed the police, three people got out of the vehicles and ran on foot. On further investigation, it was discovered that the owner of the vehicles had just reported the theft of his vehicles at Hendrina Police Station.

Police request anyone with information that can assist in tracing the suspects who fled to contact Detective Constable Bongani Cele on 067 817 6571 or call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.