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- Seven suspects, linked to various crimes in KZN have been arrested.
- Police caught them while they were being "cleansed" by a traditional healer in a river.
- The suspects face robbery and illegal possession of firearms charges.
KwaZulu-Natal police have arrested seven people suspected of being linked to a string of armed robberies while they were being cleansed in a river in KwaDukuza.
The suspects were arrested after they allegedly entered business premises at the Upper Tugela in the Bergville area and robbed employees of an undisclosed amount of cash on Tuesday.
They fled with the cash in a gateway vehicle.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said they had received information that the suspects, travelling in two vehicles, had been seen at a traditional healer's residence for a cleansing and protection ritual.
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"Police proceeded to the traditional healer's homestead in KwaDukuza, where they spotted the said vehicle and approached the suspects," said Mbele.She added that when the suspects saw the police, they ran towards the Woodstock Dam and jumped in.
"Five suspects were arrested in the river and two suspects were arrested at the homestead. A vehicle belonging to one of the suspects was also seized."
A 9mm pistol from a security company was recovered at the traditional healer's house.
Mbele added that further investigations led the police divers to a nearby river where one firearm was found. Another one was dumped in the bushes close to the river.
Robberies
Police believe that the suspects may also be linked to two other robberies, which took place in Ladysmith and Winterton.
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On Monday at 12:35, a group of armed men entered a shop on Springfield Road in Winterton and demanded cash and cellphones from employees. They held the employees at gunpoint and removed cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash before they fled in their gateway bakkie, Mbele said.
KwaZulu-Natal authorities said in the other incident, at about 17:50 on Monday, as security guards were travelling along the R616, their vehicle was ambushed and blocked off.
"The occupants of the said vehicle shot at the security vehicle and, as a result, three tyres burst. The suspects instructed the security guard to open the door and deprived him of his service firearm," Mbele said.
The security guard heard a loud explosion and he observed the suspects removing cash from the vehicle. Thereafter, the suspects sped off in their getaway car with an un-disclosed amount of cash.
They are facing charges of robbery and illegal possession of firearms.
