GQEBERHA – While Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Maj Gen Vuyisile Ncata applauded the community for going the extra mile in arresting two suspects in two unrelated house robberies, he also cautioned on taking the law into their own hands.
In the first incident, it is alleged that on Monday, 11 July 2022 at approximately 20:00 the complainant (21) was with his neighbour at his house in Walmer location when a known male entered the house, armed with a firearm and demanded cellphones and money. The suspect left with the cash taken from the complainant’s wallet. The suspect returned at approximately 03:00 on Tuesday 12 July 2022, kicked down the door, took a cellphone and fled. He was apprehended by community members and assaulted. SAPS Walmer arrested the suspect, and a case of house robbery was opened. The suspect is currently hospitalised due to his injuries. The stolen cellphone was recovered.
In the second incident, it is alleged that on Tuesday, 12 July 2022 at approximately 14:00, a 76-year-old man was attacked and robbed on a smallholding in Uitenhage Road, Withoogte. It is further alleged that the ex-wife of the complainant who also resides on the same smallholding heard a commotion at the main house and alerted the community via a WhatsApp group. Neighbours immediately responded and on arrival succeeded in arresting one suspect. The complainant was found badly assaulted and stabbed with a knife and a garden fork.
The suspect (22) was detained on charges of house robbery and will appear in the Gqeberha magistrate court during the week. The second suspect fled when the community arrived. Cash and cellphones were also recovered.
Maj Gen Ncata applauded the swift response by the community in the apprehension of the suspects. He also warned that ‘when an arrest is effected, such suspect must be handed over to police and not be subjected to any vigilante attacks carried out by them. The SAPS will not allow a state of lawlessness while stamping the authority of the State.’
Source: South African Police Service