- Two people have been arrested in Gauteng for the alleged possession of hijacked vehicles and unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
- One of the vehicles was hijacked on 11 January and the driver was held hostage for a few hours.
- Police found the vehicles as well as firearms, ammunition and explosives during a search at a house in Sharpeville.
Two people were arrested during a multidisciplinary operation in Sharpeville in Gauteng for the alleged possession of hijacked vehicles and unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The two people, aged 35 and 40, were arrested on Thursday.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters, the one of the vehicles was hijacked on 11 January and the driver was released after a few hours.
"The intelligence-driven operation on Thursday, 14 January 2021, led the team to a house in Sharpeville, where police found a Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV [as well as] a Mercedes-Benz sedan that have since been confirmed as sought by police in a case reported at the Dawn Park police station in December 2020," Peters said.
Ten firearms, seven magazines, more than 180 bullets for different firearms, explosives, a signal jammer and housebreaking equipment were also confiscated, Peters said.
The two people were found on the premises and arrested.
#sapsGP Gauteng Police nab 2 suspects in a multi-disciplinary take-down operation in Sharpeville, and seize 2 hijacked luxury vehicles, 10 firearms of varying calibres, magazines & multiple rounds of ammunition. Further investigations are underway. TMhttps://t.co/DXsJTQFClb pic.twitter.com/uWC8Hdm3Mg
— SA Police Service ???? (@SAPoliceService) January 17, 2021
Peters said further investigations were under way to determine whether they were linked to other crimes in the province. The possibility of more charges has not been ruled out.
Acting Gauteng police commissioner Major General Tommy Mthombeni commended the investigating team for the arrests.
"Those investigating this and all related cases must work hard to build a watertight case that will ensure a successful prosecution and conviction in court. What the team seized during this operation is indicative of the extremity of the violence these suspects may be involved in, terrorising our communities," Mthombeni said.
The two people are expected to appear in the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court on Monday.
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