Five suspects were arrested following a high-speed chase and shoot-out with the Northern Cape police.
FIVE suspects were arrested following a high-speed chase and shoot-out with the Northern Cape police.
This follows the prompt reaction of the Kuruman police after a reported murder case.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police had been on the trail of suspects who were allegedly involved in the murder of a 42-year-old man in Maruping, Kuruman in the early hours of Sunday, June 18.
Sam said the SAPS Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Flying Squad members under the command of Captain Chumani Yono were mobilised in order to effect the arrests.
“Based on the information at their disposal, the team traced the suspects along the Mothibistad road while in transit and stopped their vehicle, but they failed to adhere to police instructions and sped off. The police members gave chase and one of the occupants in the suspects’ vehicle was spotted pointing an object resembling a firearm at the police and a shoot-out ensued. The suspects’ vehicle was brought to a halt, with one of the occupants was wounded,” said Sam.
Upon searching the vehicle, the police discovered two more occupants in the boot, who were believed to be the murder suspects that they were tracing.
“One of the suspects in the boot was wounded and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.”
Sam added that five suspects, between the ages of 24 to 57 years old, were arrested and charged with attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, kidnapping, resisting arrest and failure to stop a vehicle on a reasonable instruction of a police officer
“The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“All suspects will appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court soon.”
Sam highlighted that police management is committed to the enhancement of service delivery in crime-combating initiatives with regard to reaction time and the apprehension of perpetrators in medium- to high-risk incidents of crime.
The acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Mmantsheke Lekhele, commended the team for their “swift response and the tactical manner in which they approached the situation without any SAPS member being injured”.
