MPUMALANGA cops have arrested two men between the ages 38 and 42 who are alleged to be involved in incidents of ATM bombings and cash-in-transit heists.
Police spokesman Colonel Donald Mdhluli said Mpumalanga has experienced a number of incidents where suspects attacked various business premises mostly fuel stations where explosives were detonated to get cash from drop-in-safe’s and ATMs.
“Under the leadership of the provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela, a team of experts was assembled to trace and arrest the perpetrators hence this breakthrough. The team is working around the clock to effect more arrests,” said Mdhluli.
According to Mdhluli, cops believe that the arrested suspects could have been responsible for a string of business robberies in areas like Tonga, Pienaar, Nhlazatshe, Acornhoek, KaNyamazane, Schoemansdal and Kamhlushwa.
In one of the incidents, one person was killed during an ATM bombing in KaMhlushwa in October 2022.
“The two were cornered in Mzinti and Masibekela near Komatipoort. During their arrest, a pistol with one magazine and 26 live rounds ammunition, four live rounds of an R5 assault rifle, an explosive charger box as well as explosive wires were found in their possession,” Mdhluli said.
You must be SIGNED IN to read comments
Police cannot rule out the possibility that the suspects may be linked to other cases and anticipate to make more arrests as the investigation continues.
