Robber's reign of terror ends

2008-07-18 09:39

Hilda Fourie

Pretoria - A suspected robber who allegedly carried out a reign of terror from Pretoria to Polokwane, appeared in Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Jonas Masemola, 26, appeared on four charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three charges of attempted murder, a charge of house breaking and a charge of possession of house-breaking equipment.

Police spokesperson Inspector Klaas van der Kooi said the list of crimes to which Masemola was linked was as long as his arm.

In December last year Masemola and another suspect apparently broke into three different houses in the space of three hours in East Lynne, Pretoria and shot four people.

Attempted rape

At one house they also allegedly tried to rape a woman.

In April this year Masemola and two other suspects attacked Jannie Fourie, 39, and his family at their home in the Mooikloof security complex in Pretoria East.

Fourie was shot seven times when he took on Masemola and another robber with his bare hands to keep them away from his sons' rooms.

The middle finger of Fourie's right hand was shot off and he was wounded in the shoulder, knee, hand and arm.

Another suspect, Mawela Msimango, who had been shot in the attack, was arrested in Mamelodi Hospital in eastern Pretoria two days later.

A third suspect Romeo Nkwagatse was caught about a month later.

Apprehended

Van der Kooi said Masemola was apprehended earlier this week in Nebo near Marble Hall by members of the Nebo, Villieria and Garsfontein police stations' Trio task force.

Van der Kooi said Masemola was also linked to three serious cases in Garsfontein, several armed robberies in Kameeldrift, north-east of Pretoria, two house robberies in Waverley, a house robbery in Queenswood and ten cases in Polokwane.

Masemola will appear in court again next week.

- Beeld