A strong police contingent surrounded the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court in High Street on Monday 27 January as three men appeared on weapons charges.
A strong police contingent surrounded the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court in High Street on Monday 27 January as three men appeared on weapons charges.
This followed their arrest 5km outside the city in the early hours of Friday 24 January.
Police had received a tip-off that the men were on their way to free a man admitted to hospital the day before with several gunshot wounds.
The man, subsequently arrested as a suspect in an armed robbery in New Brighton on Wednesday 22 January, was in Settlers' Hospital under police guard.
Under heavy police escort, Thabo 'Gidaffi' Madikane, 24, Nthabeleng Charles, 27, and Thembile Nqayiya, 32, were charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The three were arrested on the N2 outside Grahamstown after a tip-off to the police Vehicle Investigation Section (VIS) anti-hijacking team from Port Elizabeth.
Captain Mali Govender, spokesperson for the Grahamstown SAPS, said at about 2.30am on Friday 24 January, police saw a vehicle matching the description travelling on the N2 from Port Elizabeth towards Grahamstown, with three male occupants.
Members of the Hijacking Task Team, the Grahamstown K9 and the highway patrol stopped the vehicle 5km from Grahamstown, arresting the three and seizing the weapons.
Two pistols, a Norinco and a Beretta, two magazines and 23 rounds of ammunition were seized.
Govender said the suspects were being sought for several serious cases including armed robbery, hijacking and murder in the Eastern Cape.
“The arrests are a breakthrough in combating serious and violent crime in the Eastern Cape and I commend the members of all the units for the integrated approach followed which resulted in such a positive outcome,” said Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant General Celiwe Binta.
The three men have been remanded in custody until early next week for a possible bail application.
