Police apprehend two suspects of fatal stokvel robbery near White River
It is believed the robbery was planned by a male and female who knew all the details of the stokvel and its members.
Two suspects, both aged 23, were recently arrested in connection with an incident in which a group of women belonging to a stokvel group were robbed of their cash in Mshatsa near White River on Saturday December 10.
A 30-year-old woman was also fatally shot.
According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the two armed suspects are said to have suddenly showed up in the house where the women had gathered.
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“It is alleged that after three women had received their share and left, two armed men entered the house. They allegedly held the women hostage and robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash.
“It is further alleged that when the suspects were leaving, one of them shot at the woman who was later certified dead on arrival in hospital, after she was transported there by some members of the community,” said Mohlala.
A case of robbery with an additional charge of murder was opened.
“Members worked tirelessly to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book. As the team connected the dots, the investigation led them to the two suspects, one a female, the other a male. The investigation is ongoing and the police suspect that the robbery could have been orchestrated, and that the suspects somehow knew about the women’s gathering prior to the incident. The team of experts in the field of investigation are working around the clock with an anticipation for more suspects to be arrested in connection with this case.”
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The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, was elated by the breakthrough made thus far by the investigation team.
“I want to warn members of stokvel groups to be alert about criminals who target unsuspecting victims who had refrained from spending their cash on things they needed the most during the year, in order to make one large withdrawal at the end of the year. This is indeed a sad story, so we advise the groups to approach their respective banks for safe alternative methods, such as electronic transfers, in order to prevent incidents like this,” she warned.
