The involvement of the community in the fight against crime paid off when seven accused; six males and one female, made their first appearance in the Schweizer-Reneke Magistrates’ Court today facing charges of business robbery. William Paroon Dube (55), Majara Mafethe (33), Peter Manywiro (38), Kago Moleleki (25), Thapelo Morie (25), William Motlhodi (28) and Orlando Sambo (47) were all remanded in custody until Tuesday, 20 February 2024, for a formal bail application.
The accused allegedly robbed a supermarket in Migdol location, close to Schweizer-Reneke in the morning of Tuesday, 13 February 2024. The owner and his brother were in the shop, when the accused armed with firearms and steel pipes, entered. They overpowered the brothers, assaulted them and fled the scene with cash and groceries. Allegedly, the accused encouraged members of the community who were outside, to loot the shop. The police were alerted and with the assistance of farmers in the area, the accused, who fled in two white vehicles, a Ford bantam bakkie and Toyota Fortuner, were pursued. The bakkie was cornered in the Banboospuit area, between Wolmaransstad and Ottosdal while the Fortuner was chased until Letsopa Location, close to Ottosdal, where the vehicle was ultimately stopped. A total of seven suspects were arrested and police seized cash, groceries and a firearm.
More cases of being in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition as well as theft are under investigation by the Ottosdal and Schweizer-Reneke police respectively.
In another separate incident reported in Letlhabile on Sunday, 11 February 2024, at about 02:15 in the morning, a 25-year-old victim, who was at a tavern in Maboloka Village, was robbed of his cellphone at knife point. Information received was operationalised on Monday, 12 February 2024, leading to the houses of the two suspects. They were both arrested for robbery and appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 14 February 2024. Koketso Shadrack Makitla and Koketso Tumanyane, both aged 18, were remanded in custody until their second court appearance on Wednesday, 21 February 2024.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, pointed out that cooperation between members of the community and the police has once more ensured that criminals are apprehended and removed from society. He thanked all involved for their concerted efforts, which resulted in the apprehension of the accused.
