Six men believed to be linked to a robbery in Elliot near Mthatha at the weekend have been arrested outside Makhanda.
The arrest came hours after the men were spotted by the highway patrol unit following a robbery in Elliot at about 11.45am on Sunday.
According to police, four gunmen entered the shop and assaulted the owner before demanding keys to the safe.
They fled in the owner’s Isuzu bakkie and took cellphones, cigarettes and airtime.
Police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender said the men were caught during the early hours of Monday morning near Seven Fountains on the N2 between Port Elizabeth and Makhanda (formerly known as Grahamstown).
“A BMW was stopped by the members on the N2. There were six occupants in the vehicle. The members then searched the vehicle and found an undisclosed amount of money and airtime. Two 9mm pistols, several 9mm rounds and a toy gas gun was also found in the vehicle,” she said.
All the items were seized and the men arrested.
“Preliminary investigations suggests that the suspects are possibly linked to a robbery that took place [on Sunday] in the province,” Govender said.
The men, who were arrested on charges of illegal possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, could also be charged for the robbery if detectives linked them to the heist.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga said the robbery was solved within 24 hours due to the vigilance of the members.
All six suspects will appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.