DURBAN - Police foiled a robbery in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Friday night.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said the Zululand District Task Team, Crime Intelligence and Durban Special Task Force carried out an intelligence operation on the R34 road on the outskirts of Melmoth.
Gwala said the police were following up information regarding possible suspects who were planning to commit a robbery in Melmoth.
She said during the operation, a vehicle with two occupants was spotted travelling on the R66/R34 road near the Gold Reef compound in Melmoth.
“The vehicle was stopped and the occupants were searched. Upon searching the occupants, a 35-year-old man was found in unlawful possession of a firearm with four rounds of ammunition,” Gwala said.
“The other man was found in possession of various pieces of police uniform. Both suspects were placed under arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as possession of a police uniform.”
Gwala said the men would be profiled to check if they were linked to robberies that were committed in Melmoth and surrounding areas.
She said the men were expected to appear in the Melmoth Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The issue of the police uniform was topical on Facebook and many users asked how they got the uniform.
One user said his uniform was stolen from the washing line along with the rest of his washing. Another user said in most cases, house break-ins targeted police homes.
Lillian Bester alleged they got the uniforms from “their corrupt buddies in the police”.
Neziswa Manez Nocanda said she wondered whose house was broken into for the uniform to be was stolen.
Junior Muthulisi said it was hard to pull over while driving at night because they no longer knew who to trust. “Even at roadblocks, it was hard to trust a four- to six-man roadblock.”
Banda Zealot Clever said it was now difficult to differentiate between the police and robbers.
Richard Otto said that was why he did not pull over for police. “Follow me with your blue light and siren to the nearest police station and we can sort it out there,” he said.
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Daily News