Police ambushed two suspects and recovered suspected stolen LG products that may have been looted during the recent riots by a bakkie traveling along the R102 near Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday. KZN SAPS spokesman Colonel Thembeka Mbele said police officers on duty along the R102 at Phoenix Police Station stopped the vehicle early in the morning and made the arrests. “The police stopped a bakkie on the R102 after realizing that the vehicle aroused their suspicions. During the search of the vehicle, the police found various LG products. The two occupants found in the vehicle were questioned about the items but could not explain where they got the items from, ”Mbele said. It is currently unclear whether the stolen property is related to recent riots and looting in the province. Mbele said police officers then arrested the suspects, a man and a woman, both aged 39, and took them to the Phoenix Police Station for further processing. “Both suspects were charged with stolen property,” Mbele said. Mbele said the suspects are expected to appear in Verulam District Court on Monday, August 23, 2021 to face the indictment. The latest police arrest follows widespread civil unrest and looting that took place in parts of Durban and the rest of KwaZulu-Natal during the week of July 12th. Thousands of looters broke into stores and malls, where they forcibly shot the premises before looting stores selling electronic goods, clothing, groceries and other items. The provincial police launched an intensive operation after the unrest to recover the looted goods. This resulted in numerous electronic devices such as refrigerators, freezers and televisions being stored at local police stations before being destroyed. The week of the turmoil, sparked by demands for former President Jacob Zuma to be released from prison, cost the country’s economy billions of rand in inventory losses and infrastructure damage. Zuma is serving a 15-month sentence for disobeying the court after defying a Constitutional Court order last month to appear before the Zondo State Arrest Commission.
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