By Sbongile Sokela
Swift police work in the OR Tambo District has led to the arrest of two suspects in separate gun-related crimes, underscoring the region’s intensified efforts to tackle violent crime and illegal firearm possession.
In the first case, a 37-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of 1 June following an armed robbery that left a local resident R4 000 poorer. The robbery, which took place in the Mboziseni locality under the Hlababomvu policing precinct, involved a licensed firearm believed to have been used to threaten the victim a neighbour during a cash grab linked to wood sales. Police tracked the suspect to his residence and seized the firearm.
Just a day earlier, on 31 May, police in Mthatha responded to a separate incident involving a 29-year-old man who attempted to steal a bottle of whiskey from a liquor store. What began as a shoplifting case escalated when the suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed revolver. Shockingly, the firearm was loaded with two spent cartridges raising concerns about its previous use.
Thanks to sharp-eyed store staff and a vigilant security guard, the man was detained until authorities arrived.
Both suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, 3 June. The armed robbery suspect will face the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court, while the whiskey thief-turned-firearm suspect will appear in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court.
Brigadier Vukile Ntuli, Acting OR Tambo District Commissioner, praised the quick and coordinated responses. “These arrests demonstrate our commitment to removing dangerous individuals and illegal weapons from our streets. We commend the dedication of both the Hlababomvu and Mthatha teams, as well as the alert citizens who helped bring these suspects to justice,” said Ntuli.
As communities across the region work to fight rising gun violence, these arrests mark a clear message armed criminals are being watched, and they will be brought in.
