Brig. Selvy Mohlala, provinsiale polisiewoordvoerder van Mpumalanga, sê in ‘n verklaring drie verdagtes, onderskeidelik 29, 29 en 43 jaar oud, is gister in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle vroeër die oggend vermoedelik ‘n rooftog op ‘n plaas in die Leslie-distrik uitgevoer het.
Na bewering het die drie mans na die plaas gegaan en voorgegee dat hulle in vee belangstel.
Hulle is ingelaat, waarna hulle die 60-jarige plaaseienaar en haar helper as gyselaars aangehou het.
Die helper kon glo daarin slaag om te ontsnap, maar dit het nie die verdagtes gekeer om die 60-jarige vrou aan te rand en in die bobeen te steek nie.
Die drie verdagtes het weggekom met ‘n onbekende kontantbedrag, ‘n windbuks, gereedskap, ‘n slypmasjien, huissleutels, en ‘n sak gevul met ander items.
Polisie sowel as boere van die omgewing is ongeveer 09:00 van die voorval in kennis gestel en hulle kon daarin slaag om twee van die verdagtes langs die N17-pad en die ander verdagte naby ‘n ander plaas te arresteer.
Die verdagtes is aangekla vir die besit van vermoedelik gesteelde eiendom en kan moontlik met die plaasroof verbind word.
Die verdagtes sal Vrydag 9 September in die Leslie-landdroshof verskyn.
“Die polisie kan nie die moontlikheid uitsluit om meer aanklagtes teen hulle by te voeg of hulle te verbind met ander misdade wat elders gepleeg is soos die ondersoek vorder nie.”
Lt.genl. Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, provinsiale polisiekommissaris van Mpumalanga, het die arrestasie en beslaglegging van die gesteelde items verwelkom, “Om saam met ander belanghebbendes in die stryd teen misdaad te werk, blyk positiewe resultate te lewer en dit gee ons vreugde om sulke suksesse te ervaar. Ons moedig ander aan om hande met ons te vat in die pad om ‘n veiliger omgewing vir alle burgers te skep.”
Lees die volledige mediavrystelling hier:
Media Statement
South African Police Service
Office of the Provincial Commissioner Mpumalanga
NELSPRUIT – Three suspects, aged 29, 29 and 43 were arrested today, Wednesday 07 September 2022 at Leslie after staging a robbery at a certain farm earlier around 07:30.
According to the information, the three male suspects went to the farm under the pretence of being potential customers of livestock. Once they were let in, the three held a 60-year-old female (farm owner) together with her helper hostage. It is further alleged that the helper somehow managed to escape however the owner was left alone with the suspects who allegedly assaulted her as well as stabbed her on the thigh.
The men are said to have robbed her of several items including undisclosed amount of cash, airgun, tools, a grinder, house keys, a bag, and other items before they fled the scene.
Police as well as local farmers in the area were alerted about the incident and at around 09:00, the three suspects were swiftly cornered, two along the N17 Road whilst the third one was apprehended next to another farm nearby. The suspects were reportedly found in possession of the items that were allegedly stolen earlier at the farm. They were then charged for possession of suspected stolen properties and they could possibly be linked with the said farm robbery.
The three are expected to make their first appearance at Leslie Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 09 September 2022 facing the said charges. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against them or linking them to other crimes committed elsewhere as the investigation progresses.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has appreciated the arrest of the suspects as well as the recovery of the items that were stolen earlier during the robbery. “Working with other stakeholders in the fight against crime seems to produce positive results and it gives us joy to be experiencing such successes. We encourage others to join hands with us in the path of creating a safer environment for all citizens,” said Lieutenant General Manamela.
Ends
Enquiries:
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala
