JOINT POLICE OPERATION YIELD POSITIVE RESULT

BY STAFF REPOTER
Witbank: A total of 25 suspects were arrested in Witbank and surrounding places for various offences including possession of drugs, selling liquor without licence, contravention of immigration act, possession of copper wire and mining equipment worth millions of rands. The suspects were arrested on Sunday 17 October during a joint sweeping operation carried out by members of the Witbank Police as well as Witbank Community Policing Forum.
According to the police report, the operation targeted certain areas in Witbank, including Klarinet and Coronation Park where suspects, aged between 20 and 31 were apprehended.
“The intense operation culminated into the closure of illegal scrap metal shop where suspected stolen copper wire was confiscated, as well as the seizure of Kenna metal mining drills worth millions of rands. The suspects are due to appear before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court soon,” said Colonel Donald Mdhluli, Mpumalanga Provincial Police Spokesperson. Furthermore, Mdhluli said another two suspects, Peter Mpitikwana Mathibela, aged 27, as well as Mozambican National, Fabiano Joseph Nyawulane, aged 29, were both remanded in custody during their first appearance at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 14 October 2021. “The two face charges relating to being in possession of 18 suspected stolen solar panels valued at about R 180 000,” Mdhluli explained.
He said the duo’s court appearance follows their arrest on Tuesday, 12 October 2021, by members of the police from Witbank Crime Intelligence, in collaboration with their counterparts from Visible Policing. “It is reported that the police members received information about suspects in possession of suspected stolen solar panels which they allegedly kept at their places of residence. The information was then operationalised by the team and on their arrival, the items were confiscated,” he said. The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has commended the collaborative efforts by the members which produced positive results.