Continuous efforts by police to ensure that all wanted suspects are traced, arrested and brought before court were successful when seven suspects were traced and arrested in different tracing operations over the Easter Weekend.
On 04 April 2021, Tactical Response Team (TRT) members, deployed at Qumbu, arrested two male suspects aged 35 at Qumbu and charged them for murder and car hijacking. The arrest follows after information about a wanted suspect, who is accused in a case of murder and car hijacking at Lower Chulunca, was received. The case was opened in April 2021 and the stolen vehicle, a VW Polo was recovered.
In another tracing operation, a 36-year-old male suspect was arrested in his home at Tsolo after police searched his home and found unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
He was charged for possession of unlicensed firearm, possession of prohibited firearm, illegal possession of ammunition. An additional charge of dealing in drugs was added after two bompie plastics of tik and seventeen small tik packets, cash amounting to one thousand two hundred and ninety three rand (R1293.00) were recovered.
Tactical Response Team and community members’ efforts to fight crime were rewarded after a housebreaking incident that was reported at Mthatha Central Police station. The police followed the trail to Mandela where a 28-year-old suspect was arrested and charged for housebreaking. One Lenovo laptop and a Telefunken TV set were recovered at the scene.
Three male suspects, aged between 25 and 27, were arrested at Ngcobo on 03 April 2021 at Kumajija A/A, Dalasile and charged for armed robbery and murder perpetrated in March 2021. The arrest followed after Tactical Response Team members operationalised information received.
A 28-year-old suspect from Qala locality, Mbinja A/A, Tsolo was arrested as he was a wanted suspect in a case of attempted murder after he allegedly shot his brother in the chest, accusing him for being the reason behind the death of their mother who died in January 2021. The firearm used belonged to his father.
All suspects are expected to appear before the the respective magistrate’s courts on Tuesday, 06 April 2021 facing their respective charges.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga welcomed the arrests and encouraged the members to be wary when conducting their duties. “Work in teams and ensure you are safe at all times,” she said.
Seven wanted suspects arrested after tracing operation https://t.co/CIbnWOlUhC #ArriveAlive #Crime #DrugsOffTheStreets #GunsOffTheStreets @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/dHwNaWJJhD
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 6, 2021