Durban: Two suspects, one of whom is wanted for other crimes, were arrested after police received a tip-off that they were about to carry out a farm attack in Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said members of the Anti-Stock Theft multidisciplinary team were performing their routine duties when they received intelligence information about a vehicle with two occupants who were allegedly on their way to attack a farm.
Netshiunda said acting on the information, police conducted an operation and two suspects were cornered and arrested along the R69 Vryheid Road on Saturday afternoon.
Police found the suspects in possession of two firearms whose serial numbers were filed off, as well as ammunition.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that one of the suspects has been on the police’s wanted list for cases of farm attack, robbery of a firearm and cellphones which he allegedly committed in Paulpietersburg in July 2022.”
Netshiunda said the suspects were also being sought for farm attack incidents and attempted murder which happened in Louwsburg in July 2022.
Police said the suspects, aged 34 and 40, would appear in court soon.
Meanwhile, the provincial police reported last week that in line with safer festive season operations, police officers had conducted operations at the end of November to root out criminals.
“Operations conducted during the week starting on 21 November 2022 and ending on 28 November 2022 resulted in the arrest of 1 442 suspects for various offences,”said provincial police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo.
The arrests include:
- 28 for murder,
- 26 for attempted murder,
- 50 for robberies,
- 288 for assault and 66 for burglary.
- Police arrested 172 persons for drug-related offences and seized 57kg of drugs such as cocaine powder, heroin and mandrax across the province.
- Police officers also seized 1 733 litres of alcohol and arrested 65 persons for liquor-related offences.
Ngcobo said during operations conducted during the same week, police seized 37 firearms including revolvers, pistols and rifles, as well 216 rounds of ammunition.
A large quantity of stolen property including computers, electric appliances, cellphones and televisions were also seized by police, she said.
“Members of the public are advised to refrain from buying stolen goods as this drives the market that contributes to the high rate of theft, burglary, robberies and hijackings,” said Ngcobo.