Cops arrest four, confiscate firearms

Four suspects were expected to appear in respective courts across the province earlier this week after they were arrested by Police on different occasions on the weekend.
The suspects face charges of murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, among others.
Maphure Manamela of the Provincial Police Communications Centre indicated that collaborative efforts by Police to deal with violent and serious crimes continue to produce positive results.
She described the incidents leading to the arrest of the four suspects saying that a 25-year-old woman was apprehended early on Saturday morning after being found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
Members of Tzaneen Crime Intelligence Unit and Tracking Team promptly followed up on information about the existence of a stolen motor vehicle at Thabina village. The vehicle was traced to the woman’s house where she was immediately arrested. Police continued to search her house and also found two rifles, 111 rounds of live ammunition, two balaclavas, a bullet proof jacket and two rifle magazines, according to Manamela.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen in the Tubatse area early in September.
Meanwhile, Police managed to arrest two men, aged 21 and 24, suspected of being involved in the murder of a 23-year-old man in Sebayeng outside Mankweng early on Saturday.
It is reported that the murder victim, Thabiso Seabi, 23, was accosted by two suspects while walking home from a tavern. He was allegedly shot and despite emergency medical personnel and Police attending to the scene speedily, he later died in hospital.
Police immediately commenced investigations and traced the two suspects not far from the scene. A 9 mm pistol and eight rounds of live ammunition were confiscated. Manamela remarked that the weapon was a Police service pistol reportedly stolen in Maake.
Lastly Police arrested a 33-year-old suspect at Beit Bridge border post for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Manamela reiterated that Police were doing routine duties when they stopped and searched a man entering the country from Zimbabwe. He was arrested on the spot for possessing a pistol and 14 rounds of live ammunition.
Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba has hailed the efforts of the members involved for ridding the province of illegal firearms. “The removal of firearms from the hands of criminals will have a significant impact on crimes such as murder, cash-in-transit robberies and aggravated robberies,” Ledwaba was quoted to have said.

Story: RC Myburgh
>>rc.observer@gmail.com