Authorities in Nelspruit have made a significant breakthrough in their efforts to address a recent surge in business robberies in the area.
Nelspruit business robberies linked to illegal gun cache owned by local bartender
In a statement, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a bartender, aged 35, was arrested by the Ehlanzeni District Crime Intelligence Task Team, in collaboration with the Lydenburg K9 Unit.
The arrest took place in Shatale, Bushbuckridge, on Wednesday, 23 August 2023, at approximately 21:00.
The bartender came under the police radar when tip-offs surfaced linking him to a firearms cache he allegedly hired out to criminals involved in a series of fuel station and business robberies, as well as incidents of drop-in safe bombings.
“There are also allegations that the suspect sometimes takes part in these criminal activities,” Brig. Mohlala revealed.
The intelligence-driven operation yielded significant evidence after three firearms were recovered during the arrest.
Among them, one firearm was traced back to a previous owner, indicating that it had been stolen in Bushbuckridge some time ago.
The second firearm lacked any official ownership records, raising suspicions that the illegal weapon was potentially smuggled into South Africa.
The third firearm’s serial number had been deliberately erased, Brig Mohlala explained.
In addition to the firearms, law enforcement officers discovered a plastic bag containing dagga (cannabis) on the premises.
The arrested bartender is set to make an appearance in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 24 August 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, praised the efforts of the law enforcement teams involved.
“Mpumalanga police management strongly believe that more business robbery cases in Bushbuckridge and surrounding will now be solved,” Lt-Gen Manamela said.