The Eastern Cape town of Mthatha was the scene of an alleged heist on Saturday. The police sergeant who was on foot patrol and wearing civilian clothes saw the incident and immediately phoned for backup.
According to Captain Welile Matyolo a spokesman for the South African Police Service (Saps) the concept of using police personnel dressed in civilian clothes for foot patrols has started to show positive effects in Mthatha’s central business district.
The police descended upon the scene as soon as the Sergeant raised the alarm.
The two suspects were apprehended not far from the crime scene by SAPS and KSD (King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality) law enforcement officers who descended upon the area in a matter of minutes.
One legal firearm and one unlicensed firearm were taken into custody. Members also discovered two pairs of school shoes and cash according to Matyolo.
He continued by saying that ballistic testing will be performed on the unlicensed firearm when its serial number was filed off. The two males are originally from Libode in the Eastern Cape according to a preliminary investigation.
On Monday September 23 the two suspects ages 30 and 36 are scheduled to appear in the Mthatha Magistrate’s court on accusations of business robbery, possession of allegedly stolen property, and violation of the Firearms Control Act. Further charges could be brought at a later stage of the inquiry.
Madeira Saps and KSD Law Enforcement members were praised by OR Tambo District Commissioner Major General Phumzile Cetyana. You demonstrated outstanding cooperation and coordination. Our collaboration with KSD Law Enforcement is maturing into a well-functioning unit.
