A suspect is currently in police custody following an armed robbery that took place in Long Road, Cloetesville. The suspect will appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on 26 April to determine whether he is eligible for bail.
This is according to the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court.
The store complex in Long Road, Cloetesville, where a series of armed robberies took place on the weekend of 8 to 10 April. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
“The accused first appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on 19 April following one of three armed robberies,” Sgt Zenobia Sedeman of Cloetesville South African Police Service told MatieMedia via email correspondence. The accused is a resident of the Cloetesville community, said Sederman. “There is no CCTV footage regarding the incidents,” she said.
The accused will appear in court on two counts of aggravated assault, and no arrests have been made on the third robbery, according to the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s court.
One suspect has been arrested and will appear for a second time in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on 26 April, following armed robberies which took place in Cloetesville, Long Road on the weekend of 8 to 10 April. This is according to the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
Targeted local clients
Three armed robberies took place in Long Road at a Cloetesville store complex over the weekend of 8 to 10 April, according to Cloetesville community member, Chris Januarie, who pleaded with local authorities to intervene where perpetrators commit crimes.
“I was on my way from Stratem Liquors with a friend when two men approached me […] one grabbed my bag… and I tripped off those little steps [leading up to the sidewalk] after the other man bumped me over and ran off with my belongings,” explained Yolandi Geduld, one of the victims of the robberies in Long Road.
Cloetesville community members pleaded with local authorities to intervene with the crime taking place in Long Road. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
CCTV cameras in the community
Community members questioned the use of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Long Road.
“The CCTV cameras have been there for two years, but whether they work or not is questionable,” claimed Amelia de Vries, an employee of W.F. Begrafnisdienste, one of the businesses operating at the store complex in Long Road.
“Gang violence and drug abuse is flourishing and Stellenbosch Safety Initiatives also only seem to be keeping criminals out of the CBD [Central Business District] but they [criminals] are left to commit crime in their own areas without real intervention from authorities,” claimed Januarie.
Closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed by Stellenbosch Municipality in Long Road. “The CCTV cameras have been there for two years, but whether they work or not is questionable,” claimed Amelia de Vries, an employee of W.F. Begrafnisdienste, one of the businesses operating at the store complex in Long Road. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
MatieMedia contacted Stellenbosch Municipality for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.