The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has gladly welcomed the arrest of an alleged robber (36) at Kanyamazane outside Nelspruit on Tuesday, 12 September 2023. The suspect is suspected to have been behind the kidnapping and robbery of a couple, male (47) and female (39) from the USA as they were heading to the Kruger National Park on Thursday, 07 September 2023.
Much appreciation and recognition has been given to a team consisting of the Mpumalanga Provincial Tracking Team of the SAPS, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from USA, Kwa-Mhlanga Public Order Policing, Kwaggafontein members, White River K9 Unit and Magma investigation which saw the suspect apprehended.
According to a report, on that dreadful Thursday the two tourists were driving along the R536 Road in the Calcutta area when they were stopped by a VW Golf with a blue light.
The victims were then held at gunpoint by two armed suspects who kidnapped and driven to a certain spot where they were robbed of their personal items. They were then left by the suspects who fled with the stolen items.
The victims were later assisted to reach Masoyi Police Station where a case was opened. The investigation immediately commenced with a hope to arrest those that were responsible. It was during the course of the investigation when valuable information through technology was provided by the FBI, regarding the whereabouts of some of the reported stolen properties.
An operation was then planned and executed whereby details of the information were followed. It was during this time when the team was led to a certain house at Kanyamazane.
Upon arrival at the premises, the team found the man in question. A search was then conducted and whilst searching, several items believed to have been stolen during the robbery were discovered. These items include an HP iphone laptop, two iPads, iPhone smart wrist watch, a laptop, two sets of binoculars, a 16-channels jammer, as well as a dash blue light. The team further discovered a VW Polo reportedly fitted with false registration number plates.
The man was arrested and charged for possession of suspected stolen properties and the Police confiscated the recovered items for further investigation meanwhile the suspect appeared at Kanyamazane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 12 September 2023 facing the said charges. The matter was postponed to 19 September 2023 for further investigation meanwhile the suspect remains in custody.
The investigation continues but due to the delicacy of this probe, his name cannot be revealed at this stage.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48365.
