Suspects permanently out on bail

THABAZIMBI – Four suspects, two of whom were out on bail, were released on R10 000 bail each in the Thabazimbi Magistrate Court on Tuesday, after an attempt to hijack a cigarette delivery vehicle at Foodzone in Thabazimbi.
Two of the four suspects, who are suspected of belonging to a syndicate of over a hundred members, have numerous (purportedly more than 40) outstanding cases against them.
The syndicate specializes in car hijacking, delivery truck hijacking and chop shopping. Chop shopping is the swopping of vehicle parts to “create” new cars. This  syndicate has suspectedly robbed shopping centres in Gauteng with hammers and axes moving in and out of the buildings in five minutes.
On Wednesday 15 July a panel van delivering cigarettes was on its way to Thabazimbi when a suspicious looking vehicle was noticed following it. The vehicle, a metallic Corsa bakkie, could not be shaken despite high speed and overtaking several vehicle at a time.
Arriving at Foodzone, the driver of the delivery vehicle was approached by three men, one of whom started drawing a firearm. However, the approach of a third vehicle and alarming the shop owner set the suspects running.
At that stage a second suspect vehicle, a white Toyota Stallion bakkie, was noticed parked in front of Foodzone. This vehicle was recognized by the crew of the delivery van as one involved in a hijacking on the same delivery van a month before.
It was later discovered that  two additional suspect vehicles, a white Polo Classic and a blue Mini Cooper, were also present at the scene of the intended robbery.
Two men in a Corsa bakkie were later arrested by the Thabazimbi police in Warmbad Road and another  two suspects in a Stallion bakkie by Verdrag police at Doorndraai, close to Rooiberg. One unlicenced fire-arm was found in the Corsa bakkie.
Upon arrest is was found that several other cases against two of the suspects are under investigation. These two were out on R50 000 bail each when the attempted hijacking took place. Polokwane Organized Crime is currently investigating the case.
The four suspects appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of Attempted Armed Robbery and Possession of Unlicenced Firearm. They were released on R10 000 bail each.
The suspects are Prince Fhiwungla (37), Falton Shingange (38), Mbuki William Tshabalala (33) and Valentine Dzivhani (32), all from Soweto. Bail was paid immediately in cash.
Upon release the four suspects were arrested by Bela Bela police in connection with crimes committed there.