Suspect protected from violent mob by police officials

A POLICE official was injured and a police vehicle damaged during a violent protest by Lenyenye residents who demanded that a suspect be handed over to them last Thursday.

According to eye witnesses, residents became angry when the police wanted to take away an armed robbery suspect.

“Residents threw stones at them, injuring a police officer and breaking the window of one of the police vehicles,” the source, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The source further said the enraged residents followed the police vehicle to Maake police station where the violent protest continued until they were calmed down by their leaders.

Tzaneen police spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe confirmed the incident.

Regarding the suspect involved, Ngoepe said two armed men reportedly entered the house of a money lender and demanded money last Wednesday night.

“Family members screamed for help and community members and the police rushed to the house.

One suspect ran away while his accomplice was arrested and a firearm with a serial number filed off was confiscated from the arrested suspect,” Ngoepe said.

He said the arrested suspect was 40 years old and had been charged with attempted armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

He was due to appear before the Naphuno magistrate’s court shortly, according to Ngoepe.

“Police are busy with investigations to find out if the suspect was involved in other armed robberies that happened in the area,” he said.

Ngoepe appealed to residents not to take the law into their own hands when they apprehended suspected criminals, but to hand them over to the police instead.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect who fled is requested to contact the nearest police station.