On June 21, 2023, four individuals, ages 29 to 32, were detained on suspicion of
business robbery in Volkrust, possession of unauthorized firearms and ammunition, and
possession of possibly stolen property.

They were taken into custody when Volkrust police received information about a silver
BMW with four people inside that was travelling on the R543 Road between
Wakkerstroom and Volksrust and heading that way. The tip also claimed that the car
had been used in an armed robbery the night before at Wakkerstroom. It is said that
during the robbery, both the business owner and the customers were held at gunpoint
and stripped of their possessions.

While responding to the situation, members found the aforementioned vehicle that fit the
description on R543 Road close to the Vukuzakhe location’s entrance. The car was
halted, and both the inside of the car and its occupants were searched.
Members recovered two unlicensed firearms, a 9mm short Davis pistol and a 9mm
Luger pistol, for further investigation. Ballistic testing will determine if they were used in
a previous crime, potentially adding more charges against suspects.

The men and women in Blue also found various brands of cigarettes, cell phones, as
well as undisclosed amounts of cash packed inside a plastic.

Investigations led to suspected hidden items, leading to a field where machines were
used for mobile network airtime generation.

The four suspects are expected to appear at the Volksrust District Court today, 22 June
2023 facing the said charges. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more
charges against the suspects as the investigation continues.