The police in Mhala intercepted seven suspects aged between 35 and 60 at Thulamahashe, possibly on their way to commit crime. Two firearms with ammunition were confiscated during their arrest.
Police report indicates that the Mhala Crime Prevention Unit members received intelligence about seven armed suspects who orchestrated to carry out robberies within the Mhala Policing Precinct. The information further outlined that these men were heavily armed and were driving in three vehicles.
Within a blink of an eye, members bravely vowed to face these suspects head-on. The astute members immediately assembled a team. They then strategized and coordinated their resources, which enabled them to swiftly respond accordingly.
Some of the team members that were strategically placed along the Mbumba Road towards Acornhoek spotted the three vehicles that matched the descriptions as per information provided. Whilst the men and women in Blue were ordering these cars to stop, the driver of one of the vehicles with a Gauteng registration number plates made a U-turn and then sped off to evade arrest.
The other two cars with the seven men remained. It was during this time when members conducted a search that they discovered the two firearms with thirteen live ammunition.
The seven suspects were then charged accordingly for possession of unlicenced firearms with ammunition.
As a norm in the Police, the confiscated firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether these weapons were not previously used in the commission of crime elsewhere hence Police cannot rule out at this stage, the possibility of adding more charges against the suspects as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile the Police in Mhala urge members of the public, especially those who might have been robbed (whilst hitchhiking) by a group of armed suspects driving in either a blue VW Polo or a black VW Polo, both with Mpumalanga registration number plates. The places where these robberies were carried out include Acornhoek, Calcutta, Bushbuckridge, Hazyview, or any area around Bushbuckridge Municipality.
The arrested suspects appeared yesterday, 05 February 2025, at the Thulamashe Magistrate’s Court. The case was postponed to 12 February 2025 for formal bail application.
Police nab seven suspects possibly linked to robberies, including that of hitchhikers, two firearms seized https://t.co/jvLmxHvGLz#ArriveAlive #TrioCrimes #FirearmsSeized @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/bFPmor99n3
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) February 6, 2025
