A 48-year-old man was arrested on Monday in Kimberley on a charge of murder after a Gr. 12 learner, Amogelang Refentse Assegai, was found dead in front of a house in the city.
Assegai (19) was a learner at the Kimberley Boys’ High School.
His body was found after an alleged drive-by shooting on Sunday at about 20:00 in Impala Street, Verwoerd Park.
On investigating a complaint, members of the police found Assegai lying in the street.
According to Capt. Tessa Jansen, SAPS communication officer, paramedics declared the teenager dead on the scene, but could not identify the cause of death as there was no wounds to his body.
The police opened an inquiry docket to perform a post mortem to determine the cause of death, during which a bullet wound was found on Assegai’s body.
A murder docket was opened and the suspect was expected appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 26 October.
- In a unrelated case in Rosedale, Upington, the police arrested three men and a woman aged 18 to 33 for armed robbery that occurred on Saturday in Extension.
The firearm used in the commission of the crime has been confiscated and sent for ballistic testing, said Sgt Omphile Masegela of Upington Corporate Communication.
All the suspects will be appearing in their respective courts soon.
In the past few days, the police in the Northern Cape have also arrested several suspected drug dealers.
- Drugs – including Mandrax, tik and dagga with an estimated value of R25 700 – were confiscated on Sunday in the Postmasburg and Daniëlskuil area, said Sgt Omphile Masegela. This happened after members of the ZF Mgcawu District Task Team and the Upington K9 Unit arrested four suspects aged 26 to 49 for dealing in drugs in the area.
- In another case, dagga with an estimated street value of more that R100 000 was confiscated on Monday in Prieska. It was found in a bag of a man sitting at a hiking spot in the town.
A joint team of police members from Prieska, Marydale and Niekerkshoop was driving along when they noticed two men at the hiking spot, who fled when they saw the police.
The police were able to apprehend one and found the dagga in his bag. The 38-year-old suspect was charged for possession of dagga and will soon appear in the Prieska Magistrate’s Court, said Col Mashay Gamieldien.
- Also on Monday, eight suspects were arrested in Postmasburg for crimes ranging from dealing in drugs to the possession of dangerous weapons.
Three of them were arrested for being in the possession of drugs worth more than R10 000. This includes crystal meth and Mandrax tablets.
The other suspects were arrested and charged for being in possession of dangerous weapons. They were arrested during stop-and-search operations, said Capt. Olebogeng Tawana, police spokesperson. .
Vehicle check points were also conducted on the N14 and R31, and fines to the value of R3 900 were issued to motorists for the violation of the Road Traffic Act.
- In Hopetown, a 38-year-old foreign national was arrested on Monday for being in possession of dagga with an estimated street value of R30 000.
The suspect’s premises in Thamboville was raided after the police received information on drug dealing activities.
Brig. Nomana Adonis praised members of the community and members of Shift C for working in partnership with the police to eradicate criminal activities within the neighbourhood.
