MANHUNT LAUNCHED FOR THE SUSPECTS IN NELSPRUIT

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has applauded the swift response by police at Mhala  to a complaint about a business robbery at a filling station in Rolle, outside Thulamahashe. Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched also for the suspects.

According to the report, the members received information about a group of men who look suspicious and responded swiftly. Upon arrival they parked their vehicle a little further from the filling station and walked on foot to the scene. The suspects noticed the members and fired shots them. The police retaliated and a shootout ensued,  where two of the suspects were fatally wounded and a police vehicle damaged in the process.

The other suspects proceeded to bomb the drop safe and took an undisclosed amount of cash and robbed the staff of their cellphones as well. They also broke into a bottle store and stole alcohol as well as hijacked a Hyundai truck and fled the scene in three other different vehicles, a Toyota double cab bakkie, a white Isuzu double cab bakkie as well as a cream white VW Polo.

Police managed to recover the hijacked truck as well as the stolen alcohol. Cases of attempted murder, business robbery as well as Contravention of the Explosives Act are being investigated.

The Provincial Commissioner has applauded the members for their alertness and has ordered for the arrest of the remaining suspects.

Police request anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects to immediately contact Captain Jerry Ubisi on 0726245133 or call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.