Two suspects, aged 23 and 29, are expected to appear before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court today, facing charges of attempted murder of the lives of three SAPS members on Saturday, 1 July 2023, and possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
Police report indicates that members from Vosman SAPS were on duty on the said night at around 22:15, conducting patrols as well as stop-and-searches.
It is further said that four members of the service were driving in a police marked vehicle along Hectorway Street in Lynville when they came under hail of bullets from a grey Toyota Avanza with about four occupants.
The members had no other choice but to return fire and a shootout between the suspects and the Police ensued.
The suspects are said to have felt the heat then began to flee but members gave chase. The suspects reportedly lost control of their vehicle before it collided with a roadside barricade.
The members managed to arrest two male suspects and charged them for attempted murder, as well as for possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
The remaining suspects managed to evade arrest and are still at large however they are being sought by the Police.
During the arrest of the two suspects, Police reportedly discovered a pistol with ammunition in their possession though the serial number of the firearm was filed off.
The seized weapon is now a subject of investigation and should it be established, through ballistic testing, that the pistol was somehow used in the commission of crime, then more charges could possibly be added against the pair as the probe continues.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has appreciated the efforts by members in arresting the two suspects. The General further sent a strong warning against those who attack police officials and the General indicated that such threats can never be taken lightly. “The attack on police officers is a direct attack to the State. The reported incident poses a serious danger to the police as well as the society at large. Members will never take this act laying down but they will surely have to respond accordingly. Members of the SAPS should carry out their Constitutional mandate without being hindered or threatened by anyone or anything” said the General.
