Police arrest protesting truck drivers for stealing liquor

Police have arrested two truck drivers on the N3 freeway near Balmoral for being in possession of suspected stolen property that they allegedly looted from another truck while truck drivers blocked the freeway earlier this week.

SAPS regional spokesperson, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, said that police officers from the Welkom Public Order Police Reaction Team have arrested the two truck drivers on the N3 near Balmoral on Tuesday night. They were allegedly found to be in possession of suspected stolen bottles of liquor. 

“Apparently members were busy policing trucks road blockages on N3. The business owner of Balmoral complex lodged a complaint that there were other drivers who occupied the N3 inhibiting other drivers from passing towards Harrismith. Some of them broke the window of certain truck and stole some liquor,” Makhele said.

“The team went to Balmoral complex and on their arrival the road was blocked as reported.”

Makhele said that at about 8.30pm at least 30 truck drivers had blocked the N3 and when it was finally opened, one of the truck drivers complained about some of their colleagues looting from a certain truck. 

“The members went to investigate and found a male person hiding liquor inside a ditch. When seeing the police they tried to run away but members managed to catch them few meters away,” he said.

Police arrested two suspects aged 45 and 35 who were charged for being in possession of suspected stolen property. 

“The members seized 30 x 500ml packs of liquor worth more than R2000. Both suspects were arrested and detained,” Makhele said.

The suspects are excited to appear in the Harrismith Magistrate’s court on Thursday, 28 October 2021 where they will face charges of possession of suspected stolen property.

Police arrest woman who confessed to paying R30 000 to hitmen

Meanwhile, in a separate incident the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team together with Crime Intelligence (CI) based in Bethlehem and police detectives based in Reitz and Turkey arrested a 39 year old woman who is facing a murder charge for the killing of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) chief, Nicholas Khoele.

SAPS Captain Christopher Singo said: “Her arrest originates from an incident which took place on Wednesday, 14  April 2021 where Khoele was found lying on the side of the road in the R76 Lindley Road in Bohlokong. He was found with several gunshot wounds on the head.”

“It was discovered after the arrest of Makhosazana Falicity Mfuphi and Sinethemba Klaas who were charged with a murder of Constable Itumeleng Tladi that they are linked to the murder of EMS Chief,” he said.

An Investigation conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Crime Intelligence who interviewed the accused culminated in the arrest of the latest suspect. 

“She confessed to the police that she paid the accused an amount of R30 000 to kill the chief of EMS,” he said.

She is expected to appear before the Bethlehem Magistrates’ CourtThursday, 28 October 2021.