MPUMALANGA – A  28-year-old man is due to appear in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 06 December 2021 on allegations of attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition as well as possession of suspected stolen property.

It is said that on Thursday, 02 December 2021 around 17h00, members of the SAPS attended a scene at Collegeview (in Bushbuckridge) whereby two young men were reportedly assaulted by some members of the public after being accused of theft. One succumbed to his injuries meanwhile the other one was taken to hospital for treatment.

Whilst busy with their investigation at the scene, police were surprised to see two other young men who were armed and emerged running. They were being chased by some members of the community. The members were immediately informed that the two had just reportedly committed a robbery at a certain spaza shop near Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court.

The astute members then gave chase and one of the young men fired shots at the police but the members cornered and arrested him as he ran into the nearby river. Meanwhile the other suspect evaded the arrest and is still at large. The arrested suspect was reportedly found in possession of a firearm with ammunition as well as some plastic bags full of cigarettes which are suspected to have been stolen during the robbery. The firearm will undergo some forensic tests as part of the investigation and police cannot rule out the possibility of linking him to other crimes committed elsewhere.

The suspect has since been identified as Xolani Mashiloane and he made his first appearance in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 03 December 2021 where he was remanded in custody and his case was posponed by the court for tomorrow (Monday, 06 December 2021) for a formal bail application.

Source: South Africa Police Service