Swift response by members attached to Operation Restore led to the arrest of a 36-year-old suspect for attempted murder, attempted truck jacking and the recovery of a prohibited firearm that was used.
On Saturday, 11 November 2023, at about 16:30, members deployed in the Mfuleni area were approached by the driver of a white Kia truck who informed them that he was a victim of an attempted hijacking that occurred in Bardale. His brother was shot by the suspects and was at the back of the vehicle. The members immediately assisted the victim with medical attention, where after they took the driver to search for the suspects.
Upon approaching the location where the incident occurred, they saw a group of people sitting in a shack. One male was pointed out and identified by the witness as the shooter during the attempted hijacking. He was seen trying to hide something when approached by the members. The suspect was apprehended and the members searched him and his immediate surroundings, when a black prohibited firearm was found. The 36-year-old male was arrested for attempted hijacking, attempted murder and possession of a prohibited firearm.
On Friday, 10 November 2023, at 16:30 members were conducting crime prevention duties when they received information of an address in Mfuleni Main Road where the sale of fruit and vegetables was utilised as a cover to sell dagga. On their arrival, they found the owner with a plastic box containing 62 sachets of dagga and cash in his hands. The 39-year-old male was arrested for dealing in dagga.
In another unrelated incident, members followed up information and went to an address in Burundi informal settlement, where a suspect was selling dagga. During the search they found 54 dagga sachets, 39 dagga cigarettes, a plastic bag containing loose dagga and cash. A 22-year-old male was arrested for dealing in dagga
Members continued to another address in Burundi informal settlement where, upon searching, they found two big bags containing dagga, plus 20 small dagga sachets and an undisclosed amount of cash. A 47-year-old male was arrested for dealing in dagga.
The arrested suspects will appear in the Bluedowns Magistrate court Monday on their respective charges.
