Police arrest Wentworth gang suspect, recover stolen car

Police arrested a suspected gang member and recovered a stolen vehicle in Wentworth at the weekend.

SAPS regional spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said that detectives from the Provincial Organised Crime Investigations (Narcotics) together with Brighton Beach SAPS had made the arrest during an operation in the Wentworth policing precinct.

“The team was following up information about a Wentworth gang member. The suspect was found in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle in Wentworth. The vehicle is suspected to be used in drive-by shootings that occurred in the  Wentworth area,” Gala said.

“The vehicle was impounded for further investigation. A 35-year-old man was placed under arrest for being in possession of stolen property,” she said.

Gwala said that the suspect had also been linked to a carjacking case that was reported in Brighton Beach on 20 July 2021. 

“A VW Polo was hijacked from a motorist and two suspects aged 18 and 21 were arrested,” she said.

The hijacking suspects had appeared in court on 26 July 2021. The matter was adjourned to 2 August 2021. The arrested suspect will now join his two co-accused in court on Monday.

Gwala said that in a separate incident the police had seized an AK47 in Ntambanana after following up on tip off.

“The King Cetshwayo District Task Team acted on information about a suspect who was wanted for attempted murder. The team proceeded to Mvazane area in Ntambanana to search for the suspect. Upon arrival at the scene, the suspect was not found. An AK47 with 16 rounds of ammunition was found abandoned in the house,” Gwala said.

She said police were still searching for the suspect.  

“The recovered firearm will be subjected to ballistic testing,” she said.

She said it had been alleged that a 41-year-old man had been shot at by a known suspect while at Mvazane area on 27 July. 

“No injuries were sustained. A case of attempted murder was opened at Ntambanana SAPS for investigation,” Gwala said.