Tebogo Msimanga |
Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has ordered the arrest of the suspects who were involved in two separate house robbery incidents at Bushbuckridge in the early hours of Wednesday, 16 March 2022.
One of the alleged robbers died after being involved in an accident when he tried to flee with his accomplice from the police.
Mpumalanga Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said a massive manhunt for the remaining suspects has since been launched by the members at Bushbuckridge. Mohlala said according to the report, a group of three armed men stormed into a certain house at Xanthia Trust near Bushbuckridge.
“They allegedly gained entry by forcing the door open, thereafter held a 33-year-old man hostage and demanded cash from him. After discovering that he did not have any cash with him, they took his cell phone and ordered him to enable them access into his gadget, including his Bank App. They then robbed him of his VW Polo and fled thereafter to Saselani Trust near Dwarsloop in Bushbuckridge”.
Upon arrival at Saselani, the armed men allegedly forcefully entered another house where they found a couple and held them at gunpoint. “It is said that they informed their victims that they were sent to kill the husband and to rape the wife. However the victims were not harmed but suspects are said to have robbed them of their items before they fled, using a VW Polo which they robbed at the first house”.
Mohlala further said the owner of the robbed VW Polo alerted the authorities about his ordeal. A joint operation between a Tracking Company and the SAPS was then conducted. “Moments later, Polo was spotted and followed by a high-speed chase between the suspects and the police”.
When the suspects reached Chochocho near Thulamahashe, they realised that they were cornered. As a result, they began shooting at the police however the police did not retreat until the suspects lost control of the said vehicle, thereby causing an accident. “One of the suspects died. The remaining suspects are still at large”.
The police at Bushbuckridge urge members of the public to come forth with information on the whereabouts of the suspects by contacting the investigating officer, is Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Bhiya at 072 637 7947.
