Nine suspects aged between 18 and 44 were arrested on 27 January 2019, for public violence that erupted at Extension 19 taxi rank in Mokopane. A group of about three hundred people had gathered at the taxi rank at around 11:45 and started engaging in what appeared like factional fights.
During the commotion, two people were stabbed and had to be hospitalized with serious injuries. The police were called and on arrival, the occupants of a Mercedes-Benz Vito which was also at the scene, pointed them with a firearm but the quick and tactical response by our members resulted in their swift arrest. The said firearm was confiscated.
One of the seriously injured victims had to be rescued by the police whilst being stoned by a group of people.
The chaotic situation was immediately stabilized and as a result, a total of nine suspects were arrested. One of the arrested suspects will, in addition to Public Violence, also face a charge of possession of a firearm at a Gathering in contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
The police confiscated the following firearms and ammunition that are legally owned by one of the suspects: One Norinco pistol with eight rounds, one shotgun with seven rounds.
The motive for this violence is not clear at this stage and more arrests are expected as police investigations are still unfolding.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has condemned the violence and also warned legal firearm owners to desist from carrying them during gatherings as this is against the law. “The suspect whose firearms were confiscated during this public violence incident, will also be dealt with in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000”, said General Ledwaba.
The arrested suspects will appear in Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on 28 January 2019.
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