TWO of the gangsters killed in a dramatic shootout with police on the N12 on May 26 were known persons of interest to law authorities in Mbombela.
But among their community they were better known as generous, friendly, church-going men, Lowvelder, Kempton Express’ sister newspaper, reported.
Louis Harnols and Ntokoza Mokoena (aka Shoes) were two of the four victims of the shootout that took place near Benoni’s Luthuli informal settlement.
Also read:
• Four N12 suspects were armed to the tooth
An informant, who is well placed in Mbombela’s crime network, said Harnols and Mokoena had been under investigation for the past three years as key members of the city’s robbery gangs.
According to intelligence sources, Mbombela is generally regarded by the organised-crime underworld as a safe haven from where cash in transit heists, armed robberies and ATM bombings in Mpumalanga and Gauteng are planned. Mokoena was being monitored as a kingpin in crime syndicates since 2014.
Mbombela’s close proximity to Mozambique and Swaziland offers quick escape routes for criminal kingpins. Furthermore the N4 provides for excellent opportunities for quick “hit-and-run” crime sprees to Gauteng.
Harnols was a resident of Nelsville and was known by his neighbours and friends as a friendly and respectable man. A resident said his youngest daughter was supposed to have a lavish birthday party the day after the shootout in which he was killed.
Harnols’ wife lives in White River and he had a girlfriend who lived with him. He supported both women financially. He even bought his girlfriend a VW Polo, Lowvelder reported.
He was also known for supporting his mother and bought her a house and he had membership at two local gyms.
“If you did not know what he did in his life, you would never guess. He was not scary at all and friendly and generous to all.” The source added that the neighbourhood knew he was a criminal.
“He had the best of everything. He drove a new BMW M3 and always had the best clothes and really lived the high life.”
Mokoena lived in Hillside Manor and was known to own properties all over the city. A close friend of his family said Mokoena did not tell anyone he was involved in crime.
“He told everyone he had a lot of government tenders. He was extremely generous to everyone around him.”
One of his neighbours confirmed that Mokoena had admitted to him that he had been involved in cash in transit heists Gauteng.
“We knew he was on his way to do a heist there when they shot him,” said the neighbour.
Read the full story here: Lowvelder
