Two suspects were arrested and appeared in court in connection with the recent hijacking and shooting incidents on the Kaapmuiden Road.
Zakhele Sibusiso Motsa (22) was arrested on October 17 and David Sydney Nkosi (20) on October 20. 
Both suspects are residents at the Verulam squatter camp. The arrests were made after the police followed leads from within the community.
Motsa and Nkosi appeared separately in the Barberton Magistrate court on several charges, including housebreaking with intend to steal and theft, discharge of a firearm, two robbery charges, two-attempted murder and one murder charge.

It is alleged that on the evening of October 13 they stole several items, including a firearm from a house in Open Street. Soon afterwards the suspects started their alleged ambush on the Kaapmuiden Road. 

That night a truck driver was ambushed at the first railway crossing between Verulam and Consort Mine. 
He was shot, but managed to drive until the police came to his assistance.
An hour later an off-duty police officer was shot at, whilst travelling towards Malelane.
The following night David Nobela was shot in the stomach and robbed. 
The shooting occurred at Verulam squatter camp. Nobela is currently being treated at the Witbank hospital.
The same night Lucas Nkosi and robbed of his car. Nkosi was shot in the head after he gave two men a lift.

Motsa an Nkosi will again appear in court today for bail application. They remain in custody.

Hi-Tech Lowveld, of which Hi-Tech Barberton is part, won a Diamond Arrow Award at the annual PMR Mpumalanga Leaders and Achievers Awards held at Emnotweni Arena in Nelspruit last Thursday.

A total of 61 businesses, government institutions and individuals received awards, based on the results of a survey conducted in August this year by PMR’s independent research unit.

Award winners qualified by being either the highest rated or most nominated in the various categories.

Hi-Tech was ranked first by PMR in Mpumalanga in the security companies’ category. Hi-Tech was considered by PMR as doing the most in its sector to stimulate economic growth and development in the province.

Ben Theron, a consulting engineer from Barberton returned from an once-in-a-lifetime experience, exploring a route from the Indian Ocean across to the Atlantic. He and his brother Kobus came second and were the only team from the Lowveld that participated in the finals of the Overland Challenge 2005 competition. It was their first attempt at the contest. 

The coast-to-coast adventure, in which eight teams competed, commenced on October 8 and ended on October 23. They explored a route from the ocean port of Beira in Mozambique to Swakopmund in Namibia. They traveled through Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia. They traveled 8 000 kilometres on 4x4 routes on gravel and tarred roads and 250 teams countrywide entered. 

The major evaluation criteria of the finals were the team’s ability to contribute to research and expedition objectives, the practical application of training, inter/intra team work and the knowledge of overlanding subjects. According to Ben they were evaluated on their driving ability, teamwork, theory and practical evaluations. He said the competition was tough, testing their physical and mental abilities to the hilt. 

Ben and Kobus both enjoyed the wonderful experience in which many friendships were established. The teams used their own transport and equipment and had to pay for the running costs of their vehicles, The organisers paid for all other expenses, excluding alcoholic refreshments and insurances. This amounted to R50.000 per team.