The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, has welcomed the swift arrest of two suspects believed to be linked to a spate of recent armed robberies targeting jewellery stores in the province.
The breakthrough came on Tuesday night, 18 November 2025, at approximately 23:00, during a joint police operation at the Vaal Plaza tollgate. The operation was launched after a lookout was issued for a vehicle allegedly involved in an armed robbery earlier this week in Bloemfontein.
A multi-unit force, comprising members of the Fezile Dabi TRIO Task Team, the District Organized Crime Combatting Unit (DOCC), Highway Patrol, and collaborating private security companies, successfully intercepted the identified vehicle.
According to police reports, upon being accosted, one of the suspects allegedly pointed a firearm at the police officials. This action prompted a shootout between the suspects and the authorities.
Both suspects, aged between 27 and 35, sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. They were treated on the scene by medical personnel before being transported to a nearby hospital, where they are currently under police guard. No police officers were injured in the incident.
A subsequent search of the suspects’ vehicle yielded significant evidence. Police recovered three firearms—two 9mm pistols and an AK-47 rifle—along with ammunition and an amount of jewellery believed to have been stolen during the recent robberies.
The crime scene at the Vaal Plaza tollgate was processed by forensic teams. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to establish possible links between the arrested individuals and other criminal incidents.