One robber was shot and killed while another was arrested during a guesthouse robbery in Mbombela.
The police in Mbombela Mpumalanga are investigating a number of business robbery cases in Mbombela and surrounding. It has come to light that guesthouses have become a target to criminals in the areas.
On Wednesday 3 August 2022 an alleged suspect was reportedly shot and killed subsequent to the guesthouse robbery while another man was also apprehended in connection with the robbery and he was charged for possession of suspected stolen properties.
Police in Mpumalanga said two armed suspects allgedly stormed into a certain guesthouse in Sonheuwel in Mbombela tied the workers, robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash and cell phones then fled the scene.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said an organized group consisting of community members and security personnel traced them where one was shot while the other man was cornered in one of the tarvens in Mbombela Central Business District (CBD).
An organized group, including security guards and some community members reportedly traced the alleged suspects to one of the taverns in the Central Business District (CBD) and cornered one man. Some of the mobile phones and cash suspected to have been stolen during the said robbery at the guesthouse were allegedly found in the possession of the suspect.
said Mohlala.
Mohlala further alleged that the second suspect fled but they gave chase as he ran towards the taxi rank where he reportedly jumped over the wall to Spoornet premises.
In the process, it is said that shots were fired. A few minutes later, the man was then found by Spoornet employee, lying motionless. The employee then alerted the police about the incident and upon arrival, police discovered that the man, aged 35 had a gunshot wound at the back. The paramedics also attended the scene.
A firearm with live rounds and some of the cell phones as well as cash were also found at the scene. Preliminary investigation suggests that the items could as well be the ones allegedly stolen from victims during the said robbery at the guesthouse meanwhile the firearm retrieved from the deceased is said to have been stolen during a housebreaking in Nelspruit last month (July 2022). The man was certified dead by the medical personnel at the scene. Circumstances surrounding the shooting of the alleged suspect are currently being investigated by the police.
The arrested suspect is expected to appear at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court facing charges of possession of suspected stolen properties and he could possibly be linked to the robbery incident at the guesthouse. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against him as the investigation continues.