The public private integrated approach to policing in Mangaung Metro is making strides; the idea was borne out of the E2 – Eyes and Ears initiative through which collaboration between the South African Police Service, participating private security companies and other role players as well as stakeholders work together in crime-fighting efforts.
During the early hours of Sunday, 1 October 2023 members of Bloemfontein Flying Squad, Batho Visible Policing Unit and Private Security Companies responded to an alarm raised from a filling station situated at the corner of Fort Hare and Hamilton Roads, Batho Location near Bloemfontein. According to the report, four unknown males stormed into the store at the filling station with two of them carrying firearms. The suspects threatened the workers and instructed them to lie down. One assailant hit a petrol attendant with the firearm and the victim suffered an open wound on the head.
The suspects then helped themselves to undisclosed amount of money from the tills; they also robbed another victim of her Huawei cellphone, smart identity document card, cash and other belongings. Yet another victim was robbed of his driver’s license card, bank cards and money. The suspects then fled the scene on foot. The team of police and security officers spread in the area to search for the suspects.
One suspect a 20-year-old male who is a foreign national was trekked and arrested in Tona Street. Three cellular telephones, a Huawei, Nokia and Samsung, a toy that resembles a real pistol and cash were recovered from the suspect and confiscated. A case docket for business robbery with other added charges was opened at Batho police station and the suspect detained in police custody. The suspect will appear in Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court soon.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48695.
