Police in Port St Johns successfully arrested a robbery suspect just hours after a businessman was attacked near Gomolo locality on Monday, 18 August 2025. The quick arrest followed a coordinated operation where detectives, crime intelligence, and visible policing units operationalized intelligence information to track down the suspects.
Step 1: The Robbery
At around 10:30, two armed suspects in a navy bakkie robbed a foreign national businessman transporting grocery stock. The suspects fled with the goods.
Step 2: Intelligence Activated
By 14:30, police units worked on fresh intelligence information that helped them track the suspicious bakkie in the Port St Johns CBD.
Step 3: The Bust
Officers stopped the vehicle, but the passenger fled on foot. The driver was cornered, and police discovered both the stolen grocery stock and weapons hidden in the vehicle.
Step 4: Firearms Seized
Police recovered a licensed firearm, along with two unlicensed firearms (a revolver and a homemade shotgun). Ammunition was also confiscated.
Step 5: Suspect Linked to More Crimes
The 40-year-old tavern owner was arrested for robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of unlicensed firearms. A search of his home uncovered two more illegal firearms, linking him to other serious crimes.
