Police spokesperson, Mmako Mophiring, tells OFM News that off duty police officials from the Crime Combating Unit, received a tip-off from the community on Friday evening, October 12, regarding the planned robbery. The community members did not know who the target of said robbery was. 

Mophiring says the off-duty policemen contacted officials from two other police units including the Tactical Response Team (TRT) to assist on the operation, which he says ran into the early hours of Saturday morning. They collectively observed the identified location of the suspects.

He explains the suspects fled the area, after spotting authorities at the scene. Mophiring says a police chase ensued thereafter where two of the three identified suspects were arrested and found in possession of a pistol. 

Police later apprehended the third suspect who at the time was heading towards a 'donga' near Mandela Park. He was found in possession of an R5-rifle with two live rounds in his possession which he had hidden in a long sleeved jacket. 

Following interrogation the suspects led police to the recovery of two more pistols with four live rounds.

The suspects, believed to come from the Qwaqwa areas of ThabaBosiu, HaSethunya and Lusaka, are expected to appear before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate court on Monday, October 15. They are each facing charges of possession of firearms and ammunition.

Authorities also recovered a bullet proof vest and a gas canister as well. Police are investigating where the suspects got the weapons, the bullet proof vest and the canister. The police spokesperson thanked the community for tipping authorities off.

The cell phones they were carrying have also been confiscated. Mophiring further revealed that they still need to verify the addresses the suspects gave them. He said this robbery reveals that there are illegal firearms making the rounds in Qwa Qwa.

OFM News