According to the police spokesperson, Kelebogile Moleko, this comes after two unrelated armed robberies involving cigarette vans. 

She says police are still searching for two more suspects, who are allegedly also involved in these robberies. 

In the first case in Tlhabane, police arrested five suspects after swiftly responding to a tip-off that about four armed and balaclava wearing men were seen hijacking a cigarette van outside a liquor store on Thursday.

“The suspects pointed the driver of the cigarettes van and his crew with firearms and drove the hijacked vehicle to a private area in the bushes. They allegedly robbed the victims of their cellphones and cash, then drove off. The police were alerted, and managed to apprehend five suspects. The suspects are facing charges of car-hijacking, robbery and attempted murder,” explains Moleko.

In the second unrelated case in Rustenburg, two suspects were arrested for robbery, possession of suspected stolen goods and the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition on Friday. This after four unknown men hijacked a cigarette delivery vehicle just after leaving a depot.

“According to information, one of the suspects then drove the hijacked vehicle loaded with cigarettes while other suspects drove with the victim in another van.

“The victim was taken to a house that is still under construction in Phokeng where he was fastened with cable ties and left inside by the suspects who left the place on foot. 

“The police, who were alerted about the incident and already in pursuit of the delivery vehicle, arrested one of the suspects in Phokeng after he lost control of the vehicle.

"A 9mm pistol with a loaded magazine and cigarettes were recovered.  A further search resulted in the apprehension of another suspect driving a vehicle along R104 road in Rustenburg, ” Moleko adds.

Provincial Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane, commends police in the Rustenburg cluster for their quick response and urges the community to also come forward with information that might lead to more arrests. 

Katleho Morapela/OFM News