Armed robbers attacked police officers at Grootvlei police station in Mpumalanga and forcefully took three 9mm pistols, one R5 rifle and one shotgun as well as ammunition.
ARMED assailants attacked police officers at Grootvlei police station in Mpumalanga and forcefully took three 9mm pistols, one R5 rifle and one shotgun as well as about 180 bullets.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the assailants took one pistol from a police officer and the other firearms were stolen from the police station’s safe.
“The incident occurred between Friday night, September 2, 2022, and early hours of Saturday, September 3, 2022. According to the report, two suspects arrived at the police station on Friday evening, at around 6pm, claiming to be from Soshanguve and under the pretence of reporting a domestic violence incident,” said Mohlala.
“They played victims as if they needed help from the two members who were working at the community service centre (CSC) regarding a female who was a ‘victim’ of domestic violence. The CSC’s safety door was locked at that point and they initially left, only to return later at around 10pm, where they complained that their concern was being disregarded by the members [police officers].”
During this second visit, the group insisted that the door should be opened for them.
“The members [police officers] opened the door to obtain more information. As soon as they let them in, two suspects drew firearms and disarmed the two police officials,” said Mohlala.
“The suspects then held the members hostage, tied them up with cable ties, forced them inside the holding cells and ransacked the police station, where they took keys to the safe and stole the said firearms with ammunition.”
One community member, who arrived at the police station during the robbery incident, was also held hostage.
“One of the suspects is said to have pointed a firearm at him as he passed through the door of the CSC. They tied him up with cable ties as well and placed him in the kitchen, separate from where the two members were held,” said Mohlala.
“The suspects then fled the scene with the robbed items and the member of the public managed to untie himself. He went to the holding cells, then the members advised him accordingly to summon for help.”
Mohlala said a “72-hours activation plan” was put in place and the police are on the lookout for the suspects.
The provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has “strongly” condemned the incident and vowed that the perpetrators will be arrested.
“We will not rest until each one of the suspects is put behind bars and all firearms with ammunition are back in our hands. We have much trust and hope in the formidable team, they will surely bring the results soon,” said Mohlala.
Last month, two police officers were robbed of their service firearms and locked in the back of their van in Wells Estate, Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape.
The officers were attending to a murder scene when they were robbed, reportedly by three armed men.
