A security guard (36) together with two other suspects, aged 40 and 28 respectively, are due to appear before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday, 21 October 2021 on allegations related to a robbery that occurred on Saturday, 09 October 2021 in the Witbank CBD.
According to information, on the said day, two security guards were on duty, assigned to collect cash from various businesses in Witbank. After midday, one of the guards was accosted by two armed suspects who held him hostage. The suspects then robbed him of cash as well as a firearm with ammunition before they fled the scene in a white VW Polo.
Police at Witbank were informed about the incident and a case was opened whereby an investigation began with a launch of the manhunt for the suspects. However, during the tour of their probe, members realised that something was not adding up in the trail of information provided by one of the guards. It then surfaced that he (security official) was a suspect in the case and he was arrested. Further investigation led police to Vosman, outside Witbank where they arrested two more suspects. During their arrest, police recovered two firearms in their possession hence their court appearance.
The three were charged accordingly and the security guard is facing a charge of conspiracy to commit an armed robbery as well as defeating the ends of justice. Meanwhile, the ones that were arrested in Vosman are facing charges related to being in possession of firearms and ammunition. One of the recovered firearms is believed to have been taken from the security guard during the robbery. The firearms will form part of the investigation and police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the men to other crimes committed elsewhere.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has praised members for the arrest as well as recovery of the firearms.