Following a recent series of killings in Amangwe (Loskop), Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula (KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner) tasked detectives from the Provincial Investigative Team to investigate the violence that has plagued the area.

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“I am pleased with the results of the operations, which resulted in 10 arrests as well as the recovery of nine illegal firearms. The firearms that were seized will be subjected to ballistic tests to determine if they were used in any of the murders and other crimes that were reported in the area,” said Lt General Jula.

Following a painstaking investigation that led to the identification of a number of culprits, a multi-disciplinary operation comprising various units in the South African Police Service (SAPS) was carried out in Amangwe in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The team consisted of local police officers and specialised units such as the Special Task Force, Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Public Order Police (POP).

The officers arrested 10 of the identified suspects in Nyezane, an area that falls under the Amangwe policing precinct. They were found in possession of firearms as well as 108 rounds of ammunition.

Police officers also seized a large quantity of dagga found in the possession of the arrested men.

The suspects, who were arrested at several homesteads in the area and are aged between 18 and 62, appeared in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on Monday for being in illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and dagga. Investigations into their reign of terror in the Amangwe area is continuing and detectives hope to charge them with additional crimes soon.

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