A multi-disciplinary operation comprising of various police Units was carried out on Tuesday, 6 August 2019 in Vryheid. The operation was aimed at arresting suspects linked to several cases of business burglary and theft. The operation yielded positive results when a total of four suspects were arrested in Vryheid for burglary.
The suspects have been targeting business premises where they would enter properties and strip vehicles of their parts. They also broke into two schools in Vryheid where a grinder; welder; gas cylinders ; brush cutter; tools and other equipment were stolen.
Since last year the suspects have been terrorising businesses in the area where they would steel their tools. At one of the business premises, 900 litres of diesel; four batteries; a generator and other items were taken by the suspects. The arrested suspects aged between 20 and 35 were placed under arrest. All four suspects were positively linked to ten cases of burglary that have been reported in Vryheid. Most of the stolen goods have been recovered by police. All four suspects appeared in the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court on 8 August 2019. They were remanded in custody until.
Two of the arrested suspects were positively linked to a case of murder that’s was opened in Vryheid. It is alleged on 22 December 2018 at 03:45, the body of Vuyo Khumalo (38) was found with assault and stab wounds in Vryheid. The motive for the killing is yet to be established. Two brothers Xolani (20) and Khulekani Mdlalose (26) were charged separately for murder. They appeared in the Vryheid Magistrates Court on 8 August 2019, on murder charges and they were remanded into custody until 27 August 2019.
The Provincial Commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula has welcomed the arrests and detention of these suspects. “The police officers responsible for these arrests must be commended for their sterling work in bringing these criminals to book. It is very important that we arrest repeat offenders and keep them in custody where they cannot cause further harm to our communities. We once again repeat our call for communities not to buy these stolen items and close the market for stolen goods,” he said.
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