During Operation Shanela, Police came across a hijacking scene then rescued the victims meanwhile two suspects, aged 35 and 42 were arrested with a firearm and an airgun. This incident occurred in the evening of Friday, 03 May 2024 at Delmas around 18:10.
According to a report, members of the SAPS were conducting patrol duties along the N12 Road, R42 Road, R50 Road, and R555 Road when they spotted an Isuzu bakkie driving at a high speed. There was also another vehicle, a Datsun Go Station Wagon nearby, which Police later learned that this private car was occupied by armed suspects who allegedly tried to hijack the said bakkie
The astute members stopped the two vehicles and immediately searched all its occupants. It was during this period when they discovered a firearm with about 11 live ammunition from one occupant of the Datsun Go and also an airgun from the second occupant.
Whilst still busy, the men and women in Blue further noticed that the bakkie was riddled with some bullet holes.
During interviewing the two occupants of the bakkie, it was discovered that Police came at the right time whilst hijacking was occurring and their vigilance saved the lives of the victims.
A case of attempted hijacking was opened and additional charges of attempted murder and discharging of firearm in a public space were added after suspects allegedly fired some shots during the incident.
Preliminary investigation has since revealed that the bakkie was driving at a high speed as an effort to save themselves from the hands of their assailants. Fortunate enough, Operation Shanela was being rolled out by the members in the very same vicinity where suspects were busy staging a hijacking hence they were nabbed and charged accordingly.
The suspects are facing charges, including attempted hijacking, attempted murder and discharging of firearm within the public space.
Police also discovered that the firearm is a licenced one and belongings to the suspect who was found with it.
Be as it may, the confiscated firearm will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether it was not previously used in the commission of crime elsewhere.
It is also worth noting that Police further found some baraglavas inside the vehicle that was reportedly used by the suspects.
At this stage, Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against him as the investigation continues.
The recovered airgun, which was in possession of the other suspect, was also seized by the members of the Service.
The two suspects are expected to appear at the Delmas District Court on Monday, 06 May 2024 facing the said charges.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela acknowledged with much appreciation, the arrest of the suspects as well as the recovery of the vehicle. “Though proliferation of firearms is a challenge in our province however, Operation Shanela enabled us to recover a lot of these firearms and not only that, but we also arrested many suspects. Currently we are trying to gather more information about the suspects and perhaps some of the hijacking cases may be resolved, ” said the General.
Police came across a hijacking scene then arrested two suspects with a firearm and rescued the victims https://t.co/llvKc5TqXN#ArriveAlive #Hijacking #Firearms #VictimsRescued @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/zuPzFkEb41
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 5, 2024