The arrest of three suspects within an hour of committing an armed robbery at Apostolic Faith Mission Oasis Church in Klerksdorp, proves that with support from the community, criminality can be stamped out, North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa said on Thursday.
"We condemn in the strongest term the audacity to disrespect the Lord's sanctuary. When criminals venture to the house of the Lord to rob his servants and congregants, this call for us to intensify our collective efforts and work closer with the police to rid society of heartless scumbags who are without a conscience," MEC Yawa emphasised.
MEC Yawa commends the police for their swift reaction and members of the public who provided police with information that led to the arrest of the suspects. The three suspects had allegedly entered the church's office and demanded money and car keys, ordering their two male victims to lie on the floor. They tied up the victims' hands with shoe laces, removed R450 from the safe and robbed them of their cellphones, jewellery, GPS and a camera.
The suspects fled the scene in their victim's BMW 320 D, which was later found, abandoned not far away from the scene of crime. They were arrested following a tip-off from members of the public.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Fax: 018 381 5671
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail:LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
