
KATLEHONG – The police believe some of these gang members are responsible for a series of vicious attacks against the community around the township. The SAPS media spokesperson for the Katlehong police, Capt Mega Ndobe, described the gangs as having sowed fear and anger among individuals and families, as well as among different communities around Katlehong.
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As a result of a police anti-crime blitz, which saw detectives investigating gangs with the help of the police’s tactical units, four men were arrested in Katlehong North for a robbery at a business premises. The arrests followed information received by detectives from members of the public about the whereabouts of the suspects.
In another anti-crime operation, also in Katlehong, police received information from the public about another gang of criminals who were also terrorising residents around Katlehong. Four of the suspects were arrested at different sections around Katlehong. During the arrests, three unlicensed pistols and a shotgun rifle were seized by the police.
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The shotgun was found at the home of a pensioner, who is also believed to have been the gang’s “sangoma”. All of the four suspects were arrested and charged with a series of business robberies and for being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The alleged “sangoma”, who was arrested with the gang members, later agree to stand as a state witness against members of the gang.
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The police are now trying to establish if any of the firearms confiscated from the suspects have been used in criminal activities.
Another suspect has been linked to business robberies and is believed to have been the driver of a Toyota Quantum used in some of the gang’s criminal activities. The arrest of these suspects has made the Katlehong SAPS believe they have finally cracked the “backbone” of these crime syndicates in the township’s suburbs.