Fourth suspect linked to business robbery at Eskom in Charl Cilliers arrested
Preliminary investigation has since revealed that lawful owner of one of the guns died in 2005 in eMbalenhle and the firearm was neither reported stolen nor surrendered to the authorities.
Police have netted a 38-year-old suspect for possession of two unlicensed firearms and 12 rounds of live ammunition at Syferfontein farm in Charl Cilliers on Thursday, August 18.
The police went to the farm after receiving a tipoff about a suspect who was in possession of a firearm.
They recovered two firearms, one with the serial number filed off and 12 rounds of ammunition concealed next to an unused farm house.
Preliminary investigation has since revealed that lawful owner of one of the guns died in 2005 in eMbalenhle and the firearm was neither reported stolen nor surrendered to the authorities.
The second firearm’s description fits one of the seven which were stolen in a robbery at Eskom Zeus substation in May this year.
The substation was again attacked on Sunday, August 14, but the police arrest three Zimbabweans.
About four other suspects evaded the arrest.
The three arrested suspects, Thobelane Mpofu (34), Nkululeko Dube (31) and Lindani Sibande (28) made their first appearance at Secunda Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, August 17 where they were remanded in custody until Wednesday, September 14 for further investigation.
The fourth suspect made his first court appearance at the Secunda Magistrate’s Court today, August 19.
He faces charges of being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
According to a media statement by the Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lieut-Gen Semakaleng Daphne Manamela, the police cannot rule out possibilities of adding other charges as the investigation progresses.
Lieut-Gen Manamela, welcomed the arrest of the fourth suspect and the recovery of the firearms.
“Mpumalanga will never be a comfort zone for criminals as police work towards a goal of creating a safe environment which is free from crime, including proliferation of firearms,” said Manamela.
