NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has sent a stern warning to members of the police who involve themselves in criminal activities as drastic steps will be taken against them without any hesitation. The words of the General were uttered following the arrest of a police Warrant Officer on 07 May 2022 at Kabokweni on allegations of being in possession of suspected stolen roofing timber planks.

According to the report, members received information from the public about roofing timber planks that were stolen during an incident in which a truck, carrying roofing timber planks was hijacked on 06 May 2022 at Phola Park (in Kabokweni). At about 16:00 the details were followed by the astute members which led them to a certain house belonging to a police officer. The alleged building materials were then found and police believed that they were stolen during the said hijacking incident. Warrant Officer Elvis Oswald Chirwa, aged 49 was arrested and charged for possession of suspected stolen properties.

He appeared at the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 09 May 2022 where the case was posponed to Friday, 13 May 2022 for a formal bail application whilst Chirwa was remanded in custody.

Meanwhile today, 10 May 2022 at about 09h30 am police at Carolina were patrolling in Silobela Township (in Carolina) and spotted a suspicious bakkie with two occupants. The vehicle was loaded with 20 Litre containers. The car was then stopped and a search was conducted whereby a discovery was made that the two were transporting 200 Litres of diesel. The driver as well as the passenger, aged 19 and 20 years respectively were arrested after it appeared that they reportedly did not have a receipt nor proper explanation of where they bought the diesel.

The two were charged for possession of presumed stolen goods and they are expected to appear in the Carolina Magistrate’s Court on 11 May 2022 facing the said charges.

Source: South African Police Service