Two suspected robbers appeared in the Clanwilliam Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 20 August in connection with two businesses that were robbed in the town on Saturday evening, 17 August.
Thabo Sekese (30) and Moeketsi Ramphoko (30) may not have acted alone.
Capt Tania Helfrich, spokesperson for the West Coast Police, said Sekese and Ramphoko and two other accomplices were allegedly at the Kwaradebe Spaza Shop around 20:20.
“They reportedly entered the store dressed in blue overalls, masked with balaclavas and demanded money. Two of the robbers took out firearms and threatened a 23-year-old man with them. They fled with around R6 000 in cash and three mobile phones.”
Moments later, around 20:40, Sekese and two of the robbers allegedly entered another shop in the neighbourhood, still dressed in their blue overalls and balaclavas.
Helfrich said they also threatened the 29-year-old complainant with a firearm and demanded money. The robbers fled with approximately R6 000 in cash and four mobile phones. The police spotted the fleeing robbers and Sekese was arrested. A firearm with a filed-off serial number, cash and mobile phones were found in his possession. The police later arrested Ramphoko as well.
In another business robbery, this time in Citrusdal, robbers looted R5 000 cash, two mobile phones and an air time machine on Wednesday evening 14 August. The three masked robbers entered a shop in Riverview and threatened a 33-year-old man with a pistol and a stick. They grabbed the booty and fled. The police are investigating a case of robbery.
