By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Police in Gauteng intercepted and arrested a gang of twelve men who were allegedly en route to commit a business robbery in Benoni on Monday, 12 December 2022.
The thugs were found in possession of firearms and driving three cars fitted with false number plates.
Police received information about a gang that was planning to commit a business robbery in one of the shopping malls in Benoni, Ekurhuleni.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the information was operationalized and a
multi-disciplinary police team consisting of members from SAPS Tactical Response Team Gauteng, Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit, Provincial Crime Intelligence, Johannesburg K-9, Johannesburg Flying Squad, Putfontein Crime Prevention Unit, Putfontein Detectives, CAP Security, and Fidelity Specialized Services kept a close observation.
Masondo said the team spotted the suspects traveling in three cars from Johannesburg toward Benoni.
“The members immediately pounced on the suspects and arrested all twelve, recovering three unlicensed firearms with twenty-three live rounds and confiscating three vehicles driven by the suspects,” said Masondo.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, commended an integrated team of law enforcement agencies for acting swiftly in preventing yet another robbery that might have claimed the lives of innocent people.
Mawela also thanked the community members who continued to play their role in the fight against crime by providing the police with information.
“Police will continue to strive to be ahead of the criminals and to protect the lives and properties of the people in Gauteng. More police officers have been deployed at the areas that are regarded as hotspots, to ensure that people in Gauteng are and feel safe this festive season,” said Mawela.
The arrested suspects will be profiled to determine if they are not linked to other crimes and firearms will be sent for ballistic tests to establish if they were not used in the commission of other crimes,” Masondo added.
The suspects are expected to appear before Magistrates Court in due course.
