Grahamstown – Alert off-duty police officers in the Eastern Cape have managed to arrest two men suspected of carrying out armed robberies and farm attacks.
Police said that on Monday a 33-year-old man was inside his shop in Grahamstown when two males wearing balaclavas entered his shop, armed with knives, and demanding money.
According to a statement from provincial police, the victim tried to run out of the door but the one suspect grabbed him and hit him in the face while the other suspect stabbed him on his right hand.
The suspects then took cash, cigarettes and airtime voucher as well as the victim’s cellphone and ran out of the shop.
“The victim ran to the police station, which is located on the opposite side of the road and reported the incident He was in a terrible state of shock and he was taken to the hospital where is still being treated. His condition is stabilised. A case of business robbery has been opened for investigation.”
Then on Tuesday afternoon, three off-duty police constables from Alicedale, Constables Luvuyo Faxi, Lunga Zothe and Edgar Gouza followed up on information that two males were selling cigarettes.
“The two suspects were traced and found at a house in Mandela Park, Transriviere, Alicedale,” police said. “They had several packets of cigarettes in their possession and gave several versions of their acquisitions.”
Earlier the same day, it was learnt that a farm attack had taken place in the neighbouring town of Addo. Detectives from Addo were searching for two suspects. Detective Commanders from the two stations made contact and it was established that these suspects fitted the description of the suspects who were involved in the farm attack.
Grahamstown Cluster Commander Brigadier Morgan Govender applauded the members for their diligence.
At a Cluster Crime Combatting Forum, he said to the Station Commander Captain Simphiwe Magula: “Kindly pass on this message to your members, that due to their commitment and dedication we have managed to keep two dangerous criminals away from the community. Let’s give them a round of applause. Although we could not yet link them to our case, they are positively linked to the farm attack.”
ANA