Category: General

NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has appreciated the efforts of the members who bestowed their vigilance which enabled them to arrest four male suspects, aged between 28 and 30 for possession of three unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The suspects were arrested by a team of members from Nelspruit Flying Squad and Kaapmuiden SAPS.

According to a police report, the members were busy patrolling and received information about a suspicious Toyota Corolla. The motivated and energetic cops followed the information, spotted the vehicle and cornered it on the N4 Road near Kaapmuiden. Four occupants were found inside the said vehicle and police conducted a search party whereby three pistols with ammunition were found in possession of the suspects. They then arrested them and confiscated the said firearms with ammunition as well as the vehicle they were driving in. Members further seized another pistol which is said to be licensed as well as a licensed shotgun were found in possession of the same suspects.

The four suspects are expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 10 January 2022 facing charges of being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges to the suspects. The suspects could also be possibly linked to other crimes committed elsewhere.

Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela commended members for heeding a call of tackling the proliferation of firearms which are mostly used in violent crimes.

Source: South African Police Service

GAUTENG – The police in Brakpan are searching for suspects after a failed cash in-transit robbery which left one man dead on Friday afternoon.

A G4S cash truck was travelling along the Van Dyk Street near Carnival City when it was allegedly rammed from behind by a Mercedes Benz sedan. It is reported that the cash truck rolled over a private vehicle and allegedly killed a 44-year-old father and injured his wife and children. Security guards inside the cash truck were also injured during the incident and were taken to hospital for treatment.

No money was stolen and no firearms were taken from the security guards. Two cartridges were found at the scene. The suspects were said to be travelling in three vehicles, an Audi, a Golf and Mercedez Benz. The Mercedez Benz was abandoned at the scene and preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen in Jeppe in December 2021.

Cases of Attempted Cash In-transit and Culpable Homicide have been opened and police investigations are continuing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station or call our Crime Stop number 08600 10111. Alternatively they can tip-off the police anonymously on MySAPS App which can be downloaded on any smart phone.

Source: South African Police Service

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, has commended the New York-based auction house Guernsey’s for agreeing to suspend the key to former President Nelson Mandela’s prison cell at Robben Island from going under the hammer.

According to the department, the key that was scheduled to be auctioned online this month is part of the national estate in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA).

“The key symbolises South Africa’s painful history whilst also representing the triumph of the human spirit over evil. This key is living proof of South Africans’ long walk to freedom and belongs to the people of South Africa. It, therefore, must rightfully be returned to the country.”

However, according to the department, Guernsey’s has since undertaken to arrange for the key to be returned to the country after consultations with relevant South African authorities.

“Guernsey’s have also agreed to halt the sale of various other items which belonged to President Nelson Mandela. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) believes that such items also form part of the national estate. SAHRA has been communicating with Guernsey’s on the key and other items that belonged to President Nelson Mandela.”

In addition, the department said Mthethwa is of the view that SAHRA must engage the Mandela family and Nelson Mandela Foundation to establish whether all other items intended for auctioning form part of the national estate.

According to Hyperallergic, an American online arts magazine, “Of the 33 lots on offer, over a third are gifts or awards bestowed upon the celebrated activist, including a quilt from Barack and Michelle Obama, a book of Fernanda Pessoa sonnets from Agostinho Pereira de Miranda, and a commemorative pewter bowl from Harvard University”.

The department said the successful conclusion to the intended auction was enabled through an interdepartmental team with relevant agencies. These include the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Department of International Relations and Cooperation and Department of Justice and Correctional Services as well the SAHRA, Robben Island Museum, Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the Chief State Law Advisors.

Source: South African Government News Agency