Category: General

NORTH WEST – Russel De Beer (49), Archibald Mogale (34) and Charne Steyn (27) appeared before the Brits Magistrate’s Court following their arrest on Tuesday in Brits and Hartebeespoort Dam respectively during a takedown operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team assisted by members of the Local Criminal Records Centre and Forensic Science Laboratory.

De Beer who is a major supplier of dagga around the country was previously arrested in 2019 when his shop (Canapax) was raided and dagga with other products worth approximately R3 million were seized. The operation led the team to various Canapax branches around the country which were shut down.

During the search on Tuesday, R2 million worth of dagga, R54 000-00 in cash and a Toyota bakkie were seized. Meanwhile a preservation order was issued for cash amount of approximately R800 000-00 and a restraint order for a farm worth approximately R3 million.

The main accused now faces an array of charges which include, dealing in dagga, cultivation of dagga, fraud and money laundering to the tune of approximately R10 million.

A fourth accused, Ulrich Fritz (25) handed himself over and consequently joined the trio in court where De Beer and Mogale were each released on R100 000-00 bail. Steyn and Fritz were each granted R10 000-00 and R5000-00 bail respectively. The matter was postponed to 09 July 2021 pending further investigation.

Source: South African Police Service

GQEBERHA – Algoa Park Detectives are urgently seeking the next of kin of an alleged robbery suspect who was fatally wounded on Wednesday night, 26 May 2021 in Algoa Park.

It is alleged that at about 21:25, the complainant (39) was seated in her vehicle (Toyota Corolla) at a garage in Uitenhage Road waiting for her boyfriend who went into the shop. The suspect opened the driver’s side door of the vehicle and pointed her with a firearm. The suspect took her cell phone and ran across Uitenhage Road towards New Brighton. The complainant and her boyfriend drove to Struanway Road, searching for the suspect. The complainant identified the suspect as he was exiting a pedestrian walkway and her boyfriend confronted him. The suspect pointed the complainant’s boyfriend with a firearm and the boyfriend who was also armed fire several shots at the suspect. The unknown suspect died on the scene. A 9mm firearm with ammunition and the stolen cell phone of the complainant was found. Ownership of the firearm is still to be established.

A case of armed robbery and inquest was opened and is under investigation. The firearm will be sent to ballistics for analysis.

Anyone who can assist in identifying the deceased person or know of any person that may be missing since yesterday, 26 May 2021 evening, is asked to contact SAPS Algoa Park on 082 413 5488 or Crime Stop 08600 10111 or their nearest police station. He was dressed in a maroon top and navy pants.

Source: South African Police Service