On Monday, 26 July 2021 at about 17:50, a 31-year-old business owner was with his assistant at a supermarket when two armed men entered.
The suspects instructed both men to lie on the floor and reportedly robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes and fled the scene.
The police were alerted and at the scene, a cell phone believed to belong to one of the suspects, was found.
At the same time, the suspects came back to the supermarket to collect the phone, hoping that they won’t be recognized. The complainant recognized them and informed the police at the scene.
The two jumped inside a blue Toyota Conquest and fired shots at the police whilst driving off. Police members returned fire causing the fleeing suspects to hit a taxi sedan. The three suspects jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
Residents, SAPS and taxi drivers gave chase and a 35-year-old suspect from Thabong, Welkom was arrested.
The second suspect was arrested later whilst on a hiking spot towards Kroonstad, at about 21:15 by members of Public Order Policing who were patrolling the R730 Kutloanong and Welkom areas. The suspect (57), from Vosloorus in Gauteng, attempted to flee however he was arrested and a 9mm Pietro Barletta with one live ammunition found in his possession.
The vehicle and cellphone (found inside the supermarket) were seized and the third suspect is still at large. The two suspects are facing charges of business robbery, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and attempted murder. They will appear in Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court soon.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the community of Kutloanong who assisted the police to ensure that these two suspects were apprehended.
