Two arrested, one fatally shot during foiled farm attack in Groblersdal
Groblersdal – The Police in Sekhukhune have on Friday 10 May arrested two suspects during a foiled farm attack in Groblersdal.
The suspects were nabbed by various police units comprising of SAPS Sekhukhune District Task Team, Public Order Police, National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Team and South African National Defence Force (SANDF), during their tour of “Operation Vala Umgodi”, when receiving information about the planned farm attack at Groblersdal.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said after the tip-off, the team activated a swiftly approach and operationalized the information received and subsequently, they spotted a white motor vehicle Nissan NP 200 along the R33 Road outside Groblersdal that matches the description of the targeted vehicle.
“The police stopped the targeted vehicle ultimately the suspects fired shot at the police subsequently a cross fire ensued. It is reported that the Police have successfully pursued the vehicle till it come to stop and upon searching in the vehicle, two male suspects, aged between 28 and 38, were arrested while the other two male suspects fled the scene. The fifth male suspect, aged 35, was fatally wounded. The police recovered five firearms with 24 live ammunition and confiscated a white motor vehicle Nissan NP 200,” explained Ledwaba.
He said in a separate incident during the same Operation Vala Umgodi, which was conducted at the Beitbridge Port of Entry on Friday 10 May, about forty-two suspects were arrested for various offenses such possession of illicit cigarettes and contravention of immigration act.
“The suspects are expected to appear before various magistrate’s courts in due course facing charges of unlawful possession of unlicensed firearms with ammunition and illicit cigarettes as well as contravention of immigration act,” said Ledwaba.
Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, hailed the apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of prohibited firearms through the High-Density Operation Vala Umgodi.
“The multidisciplinary forces continues to stamp authority of the state through the High-Density Operation Vala Umgodi. These teams are continuing to make significant strides in ridding this province of illegal mining and removing prohibited firearms in our province. We therefore, call upon the communities to support our mission to prevent and combat illegal mining and any other criminality,” said Hadebe.
