MPUMALANGA – The Provincial Commissioner for the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, praised SAPS members of Lothair, Chrissiesmeer and the Tactical Response Team (TRT) for their relentless efforts that led to the recovery of 10 firearms and the arrest of nine suspects in two separate incidents.

In the first incident on July 18, a joint operation by members from the Lothair and Chrissiesmeer SAPS led to the recovery of seven firearms, a flat-screen TV and a cellphone that was allegedly stolen from a farm in March this year. Three suspects were arrested. Information at police’s disposal indicated that the weapons, TV and cellphone had been stolen during a housebreaking on a farm in the Lothair area on the evening of March 29.

This breakthrough came when a suspect, believed to have been involved in the incident, was arrested and five rifles recovered. Thabo Nkosi (35) appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate's Court yesterday and was remanded in custody pending his bail application in the same court on July 26. The other two suspects, aged 27 and 26, were arrested yesterday and are expected to appear on Monday, July 22, in the same court.

Further investigation led police to another two men, who were found in possession of two firearms, and were subsequently arrested. They also appeared in court yesterday on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and suspected stolen property. Moses Elmon Nkosi (73) was granted R500 bail and his case was postponed to August 29, pending further investigation, whilst Jeremiah Gunda Maseko (50), was remanded in custody pending his bail application on July 22. 

In the second incident which took place yesterday, an intelligence-driven operation in Bushbuckridge led to the arrest of four suspects who were found in possession of three unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The arrests followed after TRT members received a tip-off that the suspects were planning a business robbery in the area. 

The members spotted and identified a vehicle from a description they had received. Police stopped the said vehicle and discovered three handguns. The four occupants, aged from 30 to 40, were arrested. They are expected to appear in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court on July 22 on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. 

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Lynette Brink
Submitted by: Brig Leonard Hlati