Trio to appear for farm robbery

THREE suspects are due to appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court soon following their arrest in connection with an armed robbery that happened on a Northern Cape farm earlier this week.

According to SAPS provincial spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, the trio were arrested on Wednesday as a result of a combined effort by Kuruman’s Visible Policing, Highway Patrol, Public Order Police and K9 units, along with the John Taolo Gaetsewe Trio Crime and Tactical Response teams.

“The suspects were arrested following an intelligence-driven operation,” Tawana said. “Firearms as well as a cutting torch, fridge and groceries that were stolen from the farm during the house robbery were recovered when the suspects were arrested.”

Tawana said that the suspects led the police into the veld in Cardington, outside Mothibistad, where some of the firearms had been buried, while other items were found hidden in the house of the suspects.

“It is alleged that the suspects, armed with firearms and wearing balaclavas, stormed the farm in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“The tied up the employees with ropes and compelled them at gunpoint to drink alcohol in order to become intoxicated.

“They then forced open the safe and stole five hunting rifles and ammunition, as well as tool boxes, a double-door fridge, grinders, drill machines, a compressor and alcohol.”

The stolen items were then loaded onto a farm bakkie which was also taken by the robbers.

According to Tawana, the stolen bakkie was later found, overturned on the road leading to Bothithong village just outside Kuruman.

“They left the overturned bakkie and gathered the stolen items together and fled the scene.

“Police launched the search and worked around the clock until they arrested the suspects.”

The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Peter Risimati Shivuri, commended all the members from the various units in the SAPS for working as a team to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested.