NELSPRUIT - The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned an incident in which two security guards were reportedly shot by two armed suspects who also robbed them of their service rifle and a pistol. The incident is said to have occurred yesterday, Thursday 22 December 2022 at around 16:15 at Numbi Gate Road in Salubindza near Masoyi outside White River.
According to the report, two Hitech Security officers were inside their patrol van, an NP200 Nissan bakkie on that fateful day, when two armed suspects suddenly emerged on foot and began firing several shots at both guards who sustained some serious injuries as a result. Thereafter the suspects are said to have robbed the victims of the said firearms before they fled on foot. An ambulance then took the two security officers to hospital.
All role-players including the police at Masoyi were informed about the incident and a case of armed robbery with two additional counts of attempted murder was opened when police arrived at the scene. A 72 hour activation plan has been launched in an effort to trace the suspects. A team consisting of experts from the Provincial Detectives, Calcutta, White River and Masoyi is already on the ground regarding this incident.
No one has been arrested as yet and police urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the perpetrators to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has wished the two guards a speedy recovery. The General further emphasised that this horrible deed has never been taken lightly by law enforcement agencies in the province. "We want to send a strong message to the perpetrators of this crime that they will never find peace and we will surely arrest them. We will hunt them down and recover those stolen firearms. They should know that were are on their heels, just watch the space and together with our community, we will emerge victorious at the end" said the General.
Source: South African Police Service