Nelspruit: The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has ordered for the arrest of suspects who were involved in two separate house robbery incidents at Bushbuckridge in the early hours of yesterday, Wednesday, 16 March 2022. One of the alleged robbers died after being involved in an accident as he flees with his accomplice from the police. A massive manhunt for the remaining suspects has since been launched by the members at Bushbuckridge.
According to the report, yesterday morning around 01:20, a group of three armed men stormed into a certain house at Xanthia Trust near Bushbuckridge. They allegedly gained entry by forcing the door opened, thereafter held a 33-year-old man hostage and demanded cash from him. After discovering that he did not have any cash with him, they took his cell phone and ordered him to enable them access into his gadget, including his bank app. They then robbed him of his VW Polo and fled thereafter to Saselani Trust near Dwarsloop in Bushbuckridge.
Upon arrival at Saselani, the armed men allegedly forcefully entered into another house where they found a couple and held them at gunpoint. It is said that they informed their victims that they were sent to kill the husband and to rape the wife. However the victims were not harmed but suspects are said to have robbed them of their personal items before they fled, using a VW Polo which they robbed at the first house.
In the meantime the owner of the robbed VW Polo alerted the authorities about his ordeal. A joint operation between a Tracking Company and the SAPS was then conducted. Moments later the Polo was spotted and followed by a high speed chase between the suspects and the formidable team. When the suspects reached Chochocho near Thulamahashe, they realised that they were cornered. As a result they began shooting at the police however the astute members did not retreat until the suspects lost control of the said vehicle, thereby causing an accident. One of the suspects died as a result while his fellows fled.
As the investigation continued and police uncovered that the deceased’s residential address was nearby. They then followed up on the information where upon arrival at the house identified, they discovered the items suspected to have been stolen during the two robberies, one at Xanthia and the other at Saselani. Police believe that the suspected stolen properties were hidden in the house by the alleged robbers before heading to Chochocho where they were involved in an accident. The remaining suspects are still at large.
The police at Bushbuckridge therefore urge members of the public to come forth with information on the whereabouts of the suspects by contacting the investigating officer, is Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Bhiya at 072 637 7947. Alternatively members of the public can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or send information via MySAPS app. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
Source: South African Police Service