Two men are currently in the Ivory Park police cells following their arrest on September 27 for possession of three unlicensed firearms, ammunition and a hijacked motor vehicle.
According to the Ivory Park SAPS communications officer, Captain Bernard Matimulane, the firearms include an R5 rifle with its 35 rounds of live ammunition and two pistols.
“The two were arrested after a local shop owned by foreign nationals was robbed at gunpoint, during which one of the shopkeepers was shot and injured by one of the eight suspects, travelling in two vehicles. Money and cigarettes were taken during the robbery.
“Upon hearing about the robbery, police vehicles in the vicinity immediately descended on the area and came across a vehicle whose appearance matched the description given through radio control. Seeing police were hot on their trail, the occupants decided to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot. That was when two of the occupants were arrested,” said Matimulane.
Matimulane added it later emerged the suspect arrested for possession of two pistols was also hired for his driving skills.
The station commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Brigadier David Ngcobo, has praised the Tactical Response Team, the Ivory Park sector members and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department officers involved for working so quickly and tightly in the arrest of some of the suspects, and the recovery of the firearms.
“Based on the initial information gathered it is very possible the two suspects may be linked with other robberies in the area,” said Ngcobo.
The police are following all leads that may lead to the arrest of the other participants in the robbery.
Most importantly, Ngcobo has thanked members of the community, who, upon witnessing the robbery, called the police with clear details of the vehicle.
The two men, aged 33 and 31, are facing a total of nine charges each – three charges of illegal possession of unlicensed firearms, three charges of live ammunition, possession of a hijacked motor vehicle, attempted murder and business robbery.
The two suspects are expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court soon.
