FOUR ARMED ROBBERS TO APPEAR IN MATATIELE COURT ON FRIDAY
Matatiele residents showered Matatiele police with praises yesterday for their swift action after apprehending four armed robbers who robbed the Cedarville post office with undisclosed amount of money
Four suspects nabbed by Matatiele police after robbing Cedarville Post Office on Wednesday will appear before the magistrate court of Matatiele tomorrow (on Friday). According to SAPS Provincial spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana, five armed robbers got into a shootout with police on the R56 road between the magistrate and municipal offices in Matatiele on Wednesday.
The shooting left four bystanders and one suspect injured while one suspect was fatally wounded. The bystanders and the suspect were rushed to Taylor Bequest Hospital and one is reported to be transferred to Nelson Mandela Hospital in Umthatha. Brigadier Kinana said the incident began in Cedarville when five male suspects aged between 28 and 39 burst into Cedarville post office pretending to be customers.
“They threatened the security guard at gunpoint and further took his firearm before pushing him inside the post office. They allegedly pointed firearms at customers and employees of the post office whilst one of them jumped over the counter and demanded money. After taking the money, the suspects drove away in a charcoal-grey Toyota Cressida with licence plates number NA 4131”, said Brigadier Kinana.
Kinana said, The suspects were spotted by a police officer who was approaching the post office for a routine visit. The officer alerted about the incident by the bystanders. On realizing that the police officer was nearby the Post Office, the suspects started firing shots as they drove away, and the SAPS member retaliated and called for a backup assistance from the Matatiele police.
“During the chase, members of the SAPS in Matatiele managed to stop the suspects’ vehicle and all four suspects were subsequently arrested whilst the other one jumped out of the vehicle and escaped towards Matatiele Magistrate Court in town, shooting randomly and towards police officers. There was an exchange of gun fire between the police and the suspect which left the suspect fatally wounded. As the suspect was shooting randomly in town, about four (4) bystanders were seriously injured and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention including the fourth suspect who also sustained gunshot injuries during the shooting with the police”.
A total of four firearms, three pistols and one revolver were recovered. Cases of Business Robbery, Possession of unlicensed fire-arms and ammunition, and attempted murders have been registered for investigation.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Zithulele Dladla expressed appreciation for the sterling work of the Cedarville, Maluti and Matatiele Police officers. He said police swift action resulted to the prevention of crime. The amount of money discovered by police from the robbers could not be disclosed. Investigation continues”, concluded Kinana. WATCH THE VIDEO OF AN INCIDENT
