Mduduzi Hezekiel Manana (30), John Makunyane Mtlala (49), Lucas Tshabang Mtshweni (31), Wanda Geelbooi Simelane (37) and Muzi Isac Zwane (36), have appeared in court on charges of business robbery, house robbery and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

They are connected to a business robbery at Yebo Supermarket in Walter Sisulu Street on 11 April.

According to information four men pointed an employee of the supermarket with a firearm at 18:30 whilst he was closing the gates.

They also assaulted the man with a brick before making off with cash, a safe, laptop, iPhone and cigarettes.

The men are also connected with a robbery in Jeppe Street at Xtreme Savers on 26 April wherein five males pointed a firearm at an employee and stole money and cellphones.

On 22 May, the men are accused of entering SMS Auto in Cowen Ntuli Street, tying an employee with cable ties and locking him inside an office before fleeing with cellphones, a laptop and cash.

The men are lastly accused of robbing a house in Ceylon Street in Eastdene on 29 – 30 May between 22:00 and 03:00. It is alleged that the men overpowered a family whilst they were sleeping.

One of the victims were assaulted with a bottle and hit over the head with a hammer, whilst a woman was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver. The robbers made off with a large amount of cash and cellphones.

Three guns, a shotgun, .22 and .303 were recovered at a residence in Mhluzi during the investigation.

All five suspects have already appeared in court. Their case was postponed until a later date for a formal bail hearing. They will remain in custody until then.

Their photos could not be published because they have to part take in an identity parade.

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