Soshanguve five charged with attempted murder, not spiking crimes

Five of the 11 suspects arrested in Soshanguve on Saturday for alleged crimes connected to tyre spiking and robberies related to online shopping, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 13.

The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Lumka Mahanjana, said the five accused were not charged with the original charges as announced by the police in a press release, but with attempted murder charges and the illegal possession of firearms.

“The charge of attempted murder relates to the day the arrests of the accused were made when they shot at the police,” said Mahanjana.

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She confirmed that the five accused would reappear in court on Monday, May 20.

“Investigations and identity parades will be held this week by the police for victims to identify possible suspects,” said Mahanjana.

Rekord reported on Monday that the police announced four suspects would be charged with several counts of rape and armed robbery, while a woman would be charged with contravening the Immigration Act and operating an illegal shebeen.

Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said at the time the arrests of the suspects took place in Winterveldt at a house that was also used as a shebeen.

The police were conducting a multi-disciplinary police operation.

According to Masondo, one suspect was shot and killed. He was declared dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, according to the police ministry spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba, communities in and around the Soshanguve and Rietgat policing precincts have welcomed the national policing intervention.

A SAPS stabilisation team are being deployed to strengthen policing in some townships in the Tshwane district heavily being impacted by violent crime.

Minister of Police, Bheki Cele unveiled additional policing units on Tuesday, May 14 that will form part of the stabilisation team deployed to counter and combat crime while enforcing the law in and around the Rietgat, Loate, Mabopane and Soshanguve areas.

Themba said the team consists of officers from crime intelligence, detectives, the Flying Squad, K9, and Rapid Response Teams coupled with private security and CPFs. They will be supported by specialised units of the SAPS, namely the tactical response team, the national intervention unit and public order policing as well as drone units.

She said Cele did not mince his words when addressing members of the SAPS stabilisation team.

Cele urged communities to come forward with information that can assist police investigations and called on officers to act tough on crime.

She explained that police are instructed to take over the streets and spare no resource in hunting down and flushing out ruthless criminal gangs that recently killed a five-year-old boy, as well as the thugs who terrorise residents.

According to her, the SAPS stabilisation team, which will be supported by over 60 operational vehicles, will be deployed for three months. Its progress and effectiveness will be evaluated weekly, where the team’s deployment will be adjusted accordingly guided by crime pattern analysis.

– Click here to view Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, on possible future police action in the streets of Soshanguve.

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