The deployment of the SAPS members across the province, in accordance with planned festive season operations, is consistently yielding positive results after two suspects aged 35 and 42 respectively, were stopped in their tracks soon after committing business robberies at a local shops at Mokwakwaila village outside Tzaneen and at two other villages outside Giyani. The incidents took place on Monday. 4 December 2017.
The duo arrived at the local shop and after entering, they allegedly shot the owner in the head, took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled from the scene.
The victim was taken to hospital with head injuries. The police were informed, reacted swiftly and started tracing the suspects. Unaware that the police were following their tracks, the suspects, driving the same vehicle, committed other business robberies at the villages of Dzumeri and Abel in Giyani Cluster.
This time the police caught up with them in a well coordinated operation involving the two Clusters, Tzaneen and Giyani. A car chase ensued resulting in the suspects losing control of their vehicle. It swerved off the road and into the bushes. They then abandoned it and fled into the bush.
One suspect was apparently injured in the process and as they were fleeing, some gun shots were heard. Police are also investigating information that the injured suspect was allegedly shot by his partner in crime in an apparent attempt to destroy the evidence.
The injured suspect survived the shooting and is under police guard in hospital. The other suspect surrendered and was apprehended after handing himself over to the police in Giyani.
The suspects will soon appear in Giyani and Tzaneen magistrate courts respectively. They will face charges of business robbery and attempted murder.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
