Police spokesperson, Mohale Ramatseba, says the arrests of these three men who stormed the supermarket wielding knives, follow after the arrest of one of them on Monday 9 December after he was shot in the shoulder by a police officer. He says currently the injured suspect is under police guard and has since been transferred to a Bloemfontein Hospital in the Free State after he was admitted at Springbok Hospital yesterday, following the shooting incident.

He adds that at about 06:00 in the morning the suspects, armed with knives, stormed a supermarket immediately after opening and demanded money from the staff. During that time the safe could not open and the local police were alerted. Ramatseba says the three suspects, aged 21, 22 and 49, are expected to appear before the Springbok Magistrate’s court on Wednesday 11 December while the hospitalised suspect will appear as soon as he has recovered.

Ramatseba says the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has since been notified about the incident in order to conduct their own independent investigations. Ramatseba says the Provincial Commissioner, Risimati Peter Shivuri, has applauded members for the speedy arrest of the armed robbers and further pointed out that there won't be any breathing space for criminals throughout the festive season.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a traffic official fatally shot a knife-wielding taxi driver at the corner of St Georges and Harvey Road in Bloemfontein on Monday afternoon, 9 December. Police spokesperson, Thandi Mbambo, said it is alleged that a scuffle ensued between the taxi driver and the traffic officer, who was on duty at the time.

She said during the incident, the taxi driver allegedly fetched a knife from the taxi and tried to stab the traffic officer, who fired a shot that fatally wounded the driver.

Mbambo added that the knife was confiscated. “Subsequent to the incident cases of attempted murder and failure to obey traffic regulations are being investigated,” she added.

OFM News