Six suspects linked to two armed business robberies in Wepener in May are remanded in custody after bail was denied on their appearance in the Wepener Magistrate’s Court today (21/07).
They are Thabo Moshesha, William Ndalose, Potsane Poone, Thabo Tshabalala, Ditaba Montsi and Wendy Jacobs. The matter was postponed to 15 August for another bid for bail application.
The suspects face charges of armed robbery, murder and attempted murder. The attempted murder and murder charges relate to one police officer being injured and the other, Constable Kananelo Mokgothu (22), being fatally shot. The two officers came under fire during a shoot-out to prevent one of the robberies on 10 May.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Mokgothu died at the crime scene. The surviving officer was shot in the left arm.
Singo said the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Bloemfontein was continuing an intensive search for a man known as Keke Ndibe. He said the man was wanted for questioning regarding the two robberies, in order to bring suspects to book.
“We are appealing to the public to assist with information to trace Ndibe, who can assist with information needed in the investigation into the robberies and murder of the police official. Information received will be treated with strict confidentiality,” Singo said.
The armed robberies in question took place at two different grocery stores in Wepener.
In one incident, four unknown armed men stormed into a store and threatened the security officer to switch off the alarm. They then forced the manager to open the safe and thereafter took an undisclosed amount of money and also looted the store of several grocery items. Before fleeing the scene, they locked up the security officer and staff inside the supermarket.
The police arrested the first suspect later, on the R26 road between Wepener and Hobhouse.
