Eleven suspects arrested, three firearms seized in a planned armed robbery

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Eleven suspects were arrested and three firearms seized police intercepted a planned armed robbery on Thursday in Orlando, Soweto.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili, the police in Johannesburg intercepted a group of suspects travelling in three vehicles while on their way to allegedly commit armed robbery.

“The police arrested eleven suspects aged between 33 and 43 and seized three unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as three vehicles.

“The swift takedown was as a result of the operationalisation of information received from Crime Intelligence.

“The police held an observation on the suspects and decided to conduct a takedown before the suspects could commit the planned robbery along Mooki Street and Soweto Highway,” she said.

Brig Muridili stated that no shots were fired during the arrest.

The suspects are expected to appear before the Orlando Magistrates’ Court soon, facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as conspiracy to commit an armed robbery.

Meanwhile, two former South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) officials and nine accomplices between the ages of 38 and 61 have been arrested for alleged fraud.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke says the arrests comes after a two-day sting operation conducted by the members from Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation offices assisted by SASSA officials in the Tzaneen area, Limpopo on September 13 and 14, 2023.

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“During 2018, the two former SASSA officials in their capacities as Administration Clerks allegedly recruited members of the public to apply for disability grants although they were not disabled.

‘After their applications were successfully processed, the first few payments to unlawful beneficiaries were given to the former officials as gratification. Then the unlawful beneficiaries continued receiving the grants until it was discovered by the SASSA authorities who reported the matter to the Hawks.

“The Department suffered a loss of over two hundred thousand rand due to these illegal activities. The two former officials were previously arrested by the same team in February 2021 for similar offences and released on bail. Whilst out on bail and the investigation was continuing, it was discovered that the suspects committed other similar offences,” Maluleke said.

All the arrested suspects are expected to make their first court appearance in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Friday, September 15, 2023.