Once more, the partnership between the Police and other stakeholders has yielded desired results as four suspects, aged between 28 and 48 were arrested for a robbery at a post office, this time in Wakkerstroom earlier today, Friday 02 February 2024 around 09:10.
According to information, three suspects reportedly forced their way into the post office during the payments of social grants. The armed suspects allegedly held the post office employees at gunpoint then forced them to open a cash safe.
It was during this period when the suspects allegedly robbed the victims of an undisclosed amount of cash and fled.
The Police in Wakkerstroom were alerted about the robbery and they swiftly activated the rural safety members from the surrounding farms. Members attached to rural safety reportedly spotted one of the vehicles matching the description of the suspects’ getaway vehicle. The vehicle with four occupants was intercepted.
A search was conducted inside the vehicle and it was during this time when the four suspects were found in possession of a firearm, with its serial number filed off, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash, believed to have been stolen earlier during the post office robbery. The suspects were arrested and charged accordingly. The second vehicle, also believed to have been used during the robbery, was found abandoned in Wakkerstroom.
The firearm as well as the vehicles were confiscated for further investigation.
The four suspects are expected to appear at the Wakkerstroom Periodical Court on Monday, 05 February 2024, facing a charge of business robbery and possession of unlicensed firearm.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has honoured the work done by both SAPS members and rural safety members for their quick response which led to the arrest of suspects as well as recovery of a firearm and vehicles. “We are glad of the outcome, produced by our collaborative efforts in dealing decisively with crime. Criminals should be warned that they cannot regard the province as a playground for criminal activities, “said the General.
