A wanted house robbery suspect on the run since 2017 was finally arrested by SAPS Kabega Park detectives yesterday, 10/11 in Motherwell.

It is alleged that on Tuesday 22/10/2015, at approximately 15:30 the complainant was at her house in Rocklands Road, Rocklands when she heard a noise in the house. A suspect entered the house and informed her that this was a robbery. Three more males entered the house with her husband and one of the farm workers. While the suspects were tying up the husband, he managed to retrieve his firearm from his ankle and fired shots at the suspects. A scuffle ensued between the husband and the suspects who managed to grab the firearm from him. One suspect was shot in the chest and was admitted to hospital but later died in an unrelated shooting on 21 May 2017. At the time, the second suspect jumped through a window and sustained a fatal cut to a main artery and died in the bushes near the house. The other suspects fled with firearms, cell phone and cash.

During the investigation Nqwenelo Tabatha (32) was arrested in Kwazakele in March 2017 but was released pending DNA results. In May 2017 a warrant for his arrest was issued after he was positively linked through DNA.

In an intelligence driven operation, at about 14:00 on 10/11, SAPS Kabega Park detectives and visible policing members succeeded in tracking down Tabatha at a house in Motherwell. He was arrested and is expected to appear in the Gqeberha magistrate court today.

Acting Nelson Mandela District Commissioner, Brig Thandiswa Kupiso commended the team for their persistent efforts in tracing the accused.’ One of our focus area this festive season is to ensure that wanted suspects are arrested.  The arrest of this suspect can be attributed to the various components and disciplines working together as an integrated team. They are commended for their perseverance in making sure that this suspect was apprehended and once again detained for his criminal actions,’ added Brig Kupiso.

Source: South African Police Service