Five
suspects are appearing in the Kariega Magistrate court on November 11, after they
were arrested and found in possession of cycads with an estimated value of R1 million on November 8.
According to SAPS spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, “SAPS members received information of suspects driving a grey
Hyundai that was on route from Cockcomb to Kariega with stolen cycads. The
information was operationalised during a joint operation at approximately
02:21 on the R75; SAPS Kariega K9, Stock theft and Endangered Species unit and
SAPS Kariega members noticed the vehicle and successfully apprehended five
suspects and confiscated 72 cycads.”
She added that, “during the processing of the vehicle and the confiscations
of the stolen property, two of the
suspects managed to free themselves from the handcuffs and ran away. One
suspect was arrested soon thereafter. The second suspect managed to flee into dense bushes, and one of the
members followed the suspect into the dense bushes.”
A scuffle ensued that
resulted in shots being fired. The suspect was arrested and taken to the
hospital for treatment due to the gunshot wounds he sustained during the
scuffle. The suspect has been treated at the hospital and has been discharged
to custody.
All five suspects aged between ages 23 and 45 were detained
on charges of possession of suspected stolen property, escaping from lawful
custody, malicious damage to property, and assault.
“The vehicle and 72 cycads
with an estimated value of R1 million were confiscated,” said Van Rensburg.
