Johannesburg - Three men arrested in Limpopo could not be linked to an armed robbery in which ANC MP Jackson Mthembu was shot and wounded, Mpumalanga police said on Wednesday.
"Those guys have not been linked to the issue of Jackson Mthembu," Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said.
No one had been arrested yet for Mthembu's shooting and investigations into this crime were continuing.
Mthembu was shot and wounded on Sunday evening, while drawing money at an ATM on Mandela Street in Witbank.
The following evening, three people were arrested in Tzaneen, Limpopo, in possession of suspected stolen property including a laptop, cellphones and bank cards.
Police had questioned them over Mthembu's shooting to determine whether they were involved.
On Monday evening, Kodwa said Mthembu got into a scuffle with the armed robber and a shot was fired. The bullet grazed his cheek and then hit him in the upper shoulder.
Mohlala said that after the shot went off the armed man and three accomplices went to Mthembu's car. Four of Mthembu's friends were waiting in the car. They robbed Mthembu and his friends of their money and cellphones.
On Tuesday, ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa said Mthembu was recuperating in a Witbank hospital's intensive care unit.
"He is in good spirits and talking."
He was not immediately available on Wednesday morning. - Sapa