The name stems from the fact that the gang reportedly restrained victims with sticky tape. The gang would then make off with various household and farm valuables, as well as with firearms and ammunition.
The men were originally arrested in the early hours of 28 February 2014 after allegedly committing a number of farm attacks and robberies earlier this year. During one of these incidents the gang is alleged to have tortured a 76-year-old woman with pliers.
The Camperdown farming community was earlier thrown into an uproar after the suspects was released from the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court on 3 March 2014, due to a technical problem with one of the statements associated with the prosecution.
The suspects were released and immediately rearrested by SAPS members “on another case of a farm attack,” said KZN SAPS spokesperson Captain Thulani Zwane.
Zwane added that, on 4 March, following up on information received, police were able to recover a variety of objects allegedly stolen by the gang. The items were positively identified by one of the gang’s farm attack and robbery victims.
“Investigations are continuing,” said Zwane.
Koos Marais of Kwanalu’s Security Desk applauded the police work that led to the gang’s arrest and rearrest. However, he expressed concern at what he termed ‘vulnerabilities’ in the justice system that allowed criminals to walk free.
“We’ve regularly expressed our confidence in the police,” said Marais. “We’d also like to thank the private security companies for their efforts too. It’s always a concern when we become aware that criminals are on the loose again.”
