The police have successfully made a breakthrough within seven days in the investigations on series of reported cases in Qwaqwa such as house robberies, murders and attempted murders involving attacks on students and community members in their homes allegedly by suspects armed with firearms and knives.

A joint team effort of police officers comprising of Phuthaditjhaba Trio Task Team, Provincial Anti-gang Unit, Tseki Detectives and Crime Intelligence made a breakthrough with the assistance of some students and community members led to arrest of two suspects aged 21 and 32 charged with a number of counts of murders and house robberies in Qwaqwa which occurred two months back and recently. Other two suspects both 27 years were shot by victim of alleged house robbery and both are still under police guard at the hospital.

The two of the four suspects have already been charged with cases of murder, attempted murder and house robberies which occurred in various villages in Qwaqwa and number of suspected stolen properties were seized in their possessions. Some of the property hasn’t been identified yet. They already appeared before the Phuthaditjhaba and Tseki Magistrates’ courts but were remanded in custody for further investigations for legal aid and bail applications.

The other two hospitalized suspects has since been charged with possession of two unlicensed firearms and ammunitions after they were allegedly shot and arrested in Bolata Village. Their case has been presented before Tseki Magistrates’ court on 30 September 2021 in their absentia and postponed to 22 October 2021 for legal aid and bail applications.

During preliminary investigations the team made seizure of clothes, shoes, cellphones, speakers, amplifier, camera, monitor screens, blankets and bags. Some of the items were positively identified by lawful owners but some haven’t yet.

Therfore, the Tseki Detectives request members of community in Qwaqwa who were allegedly attacked by unknown people who were armed with firearms and knives in their homes or streets to approach Tseki police station physically during office hours to be assisted in identifying their properties. These visits can be done between 07:30 and 16:30 at Tseki Police station Detective Service office.

Source: South African Police Service