Goods recovered, looting suspects arrested after civil unrest in the North West
As part of asserting the Authority of the State and dealing with criminality that accompanied the recent violent protests that erupted in the North West Province, a total of 65 suspects appeared before the Klerksdorp and Mmabatho Magistrates’ Courts respectively on Monday, 30 April 2018 for possession of suspected stolen goods and burglary business.
Out of this number, 56 appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court following their arrest last week in Jouberton. They were granted R300,00 bail each and will appear before the court again on Wednesday, 30 May 2018.
The other nine accused aged between 18 and 48 appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrates’ Court after being arrested during the weekend in the policing areas of Mmabatho and Lomanyaneng. They were arrested following positive information that was given to the police about possession of suspected stolen goods. During the track and recovery operations, the police found at the suspects’ places goods such building and plumbing materials as well as groceries that were looted from a local hardware business and tuck-shops during the protests.
One of the accused, was granted R300,00 bail and will appear before the court on Monday, 28 May 2018. The other eight accused were remanded in custody until 10 May 2018.
“All law-abiding citizens are once more urged to work together with the police and other Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures (PROVJOINTS) role players in an effort to assert the Authority of the State,” said the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane.
Although the province has been fairly quiet since Friday, 27 April 2018, the police are maintaining presence to ensure stabilisation and normalisation of the situation.
Goods recovered, looting suspects arrested after civil unrest in the North West https://t.co/xYXdXWjvSl #ArriveAlive @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/zq2WGjkvh6
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 1, 2018
