STELLALANDER-MIGDOL: The involvement of the community in the fight against crime paid off when seven accused, six males and one female, made their first appearance in the Schweizer-Reneke Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 15 February facing charges of business robbery.
William Paroon Dube (55), Majara Mafethe (33), Peter Manywiro (38), Kago Moleleki (25), Thapelo Morie (25), William Motlhodi (28) and Orlando Sambo (47) were all remanded in custody until Tuesday, 20 February for a formal bail application.
According to police spokesperson Adelé Myburgh, the accused allegedly robbed a supermarket in Migdol location, close to Schweizer-Reneke on the morning of Tuesday, 13 February. The owner and his brother were in the shop, when the accused armed with firearms and steel pipes, entered. “They overpowered the brothers, assaulted them and fled the scene with cash and groceries,” says Myburgh. The accused allegedly encouraged members of the community, who were outside the shop, to loot it. The police were alerted and with the assistance of farmers in the area, the accused, who fled in two white vehicles, a Ford Bantam bakkie and Toyota Fortuner, were followed. The Ford bakkie was cornered in the Banboospuit area, between Wolmaransstad and Ottosdal, while the Fortuner was chased until Letsopa Location, close to Ottosdal, where the vehicle was ultimately stopped. A total of seven suspects were arrested and police seized cash, groceries and a firearm. More charges of being in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition as well as theft are under investigation by the Ottosdal and Schweizer-Reneke police respectively. The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, pointed out that cooperation between members of the community and the police has once more ensured that criminals are apprehended and removed from society. He thanked all involved for their concerted efforts, which resulted in the apprehension of the accused.
