Five men, who were allegedly planning armed business and house robberies, were arrested in Bokfontein near Brits on Friday, 21 August, after police acted on information.

Prosper Ndebele (25), Kingdom Makgetha (32), Given Shumba (38), Ezekiel Matlala (39) and Thulani Sithole (40) were caught after police acted on information about the men allegedly conspiring to commit business and house robberies in the Mooinooi area. “Police in Mooinooi, in collaboration with members of Brits Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Rustenburg Flying Squad, cornered a white Nissan minibus with a Gauteng registration number at about 20:45 near the Afsaal fuel station in Bokfontein. The vehicle and the occupants were searched and police found a revolver and a 9mm pistol and ammunition in the minibus, as well as housebreaking equipment such as a big bolt cutter, gloves, baton and pepper spray. All five occupants were arrested,” said police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh.

The suspects appeared in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as well as possession of housebreaking implements. They were remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Friday, 28 August 2020, for formal bail application.

“Investigation into the matter continues and the possibility of linking the accused to other cases cannot be ruled out.”