Alleged hitchhiker robbers nabbed
The three men who were arrested last Saturday following a police pursuit that culminated in an alleged shootout near the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce appeared in court.
The accused, Keletso Masihla (32), Dumsani Mohlala (36), and Tebogo Mailula (34), were denied bail on Monday by the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court.
According to the Mpumalanga police, the three men allegedly gave two siblings a lift in their Volkswagen Polo on the Groblersdal road (N11).
As they approached the Loskop Dam, one of the suspects instructed the siblings to hand over their possessions.
One of the siblings jumped out of the moving vehicle and sustained minor injuries.
The driver of the vehicle reportedly stopped the car, but oncoming vehicles distracted him while he was allegedly trying to rob the victim.
The suspects fled the scene, taking the victims’ bags.
The victims were offered a lift by a man inside a passing vehicle, and a high-speed chase occurred.
The Middelburg police were then called for assistance, and the suspects’ vehicle was stopped by the police.
Masihla, Mailula, and Mohlala were arrested and charged with common robbery on November 18.
The men remain in custody and are expected to make their second court appearance on November 25.
