The Office of the Station Commander of Kagiso Police, Brigadier Nyelisani Mabatha released a statement on Monday, 29 July about the arrest of quantum armed robbers believed to prey on stranded commuters at night around Kagiso. One suspect was captured by members of the Westrand District Flying squad.
Caution was given to members of Kagiso by the police about four males using a white Toyota Quantum to pick up commuters and later rob them using knives or/and firearms. The statement reveals that one of the unsuspecting victims was picked up from Kagiso central and later dumped on Ontdekkers road after being robbed off his belongings by robbers who pretended to be passengers.
“On 2024-07-27 at about 21:30 a couple boarded a taxi near Chief Mogale to Swaneville. The “taxi” with six (6) male occupants later took a different direction, driving on R28 (Main Reef road) to the Azaadville main gate where it was parked and the victims’ two cell phones and a handbag with cash were taken at gunpoint.”
The suspects were caught by Members of the Flying squad while patrolling on R28. The suspect’s white Toyota Quantum was parked in the dark next to a gate when police approached it. It is alleged that suspects jumped out of the vehicle and fled to different directions. They then opened fire towards the police.
“One of the suspects was shot and wounded to the leg during a shootout with Police. He was taken to hospital under Police guard and later detained at Kagiso following his discharge today.”
The statement concludes that five more suspects are still on the run while the detained suspect is facing multiple charges including attempted murder and armed robbery.