COLDSTREAM, Eastern Cape – Three suspects have been arrested in connection with an arson attack on a local ward councillor’s home in Coldstream.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape has made a breakthrough in its investigation into the petrol bomb attack, which took place approximately two weeks ago and resulted in the councillor’s house being destroyed.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, the arrests were made during a coordinated operation in the early hours of Wednesday, 4 November.

At approximately 04:00, members of the SAPS Storms River acted on intelligence and intercepted a Mahindra SUV travelling along the R102 in Coldstream.

During a stop-and-search operation, officers discovered that the vehicle was fitted with false number plates and a fraudulent vehicle licence disc.

A subsequent search uncovered several items suspected of being intended for use in the commission of a crime. These included a bottle containing a substance suspected to be petrol, a bag containing cloth, another bag containing empty glass liquor bottles and a lighter.

Three suspects, including a woman who is related to the victim of the initial arson attack, were arrested at the scene. The two male occupants of the vehicle were also taken into custody.

The suspects are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of suspected stolen property relating to the false number plates.

Police have seized the vehicle and all exhibits for further investigation and the suspected petrol has been submitted for chemical analysis.

The Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in Jeffreys Bay attended the scene and processed the exhibits, including the false number plates, fraudulent licence disc and bags recovered from the vehicle.

The arrested suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

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