He was a popular street-style dancer whose videos went viral on social media. But the fallen rising star Mashambula has since taken a different path of crime and was recently one of the men arrested by Honeydew Police following a jewelry store robbery yesterday.

ROBBERY

Mashambula and his counterparts who were armed unsuccessfully robbed a Clearwater Mall jewellery store and tried to make off with valuable rings, watches necklaces and other expensive items. A bystander working at one of the shops said they locked themselves into their store when the men came armed to the mall. "We just heard glass break and people screaming and running and when we looked out the window we saw men at the jewelry store packing almost everything,' the storekeeper said. "We were shocked, everything happened so fast, but they were in the store for a long time, taking everything. We called security.'

CAUGHT

In a video making rounds on social media, the men are seen taking jewelry and breaking a window to gain access to the visual merchandise. They are then chased by police who arrest them. One of the men is former dancer Mashambula. The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, commended the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, South African Police Service (SAPS), Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and private security teams for their swift and coordinated response that led to the arrest of seven suspects following the robbery. Police recovered four firearms in the arrest. "The determination and bravery displayed by the officers, even in the face of armed resistance, is highly commendable,' he said. "The recovery of the stolen jewelry, along with the arrests made, underscores our resolve to strengthen the implementation of measures aimed at reducing serious crimes.' He said he hopes this serves as a stern warning to those who threaten the safety and security of the people - criminal activities will be met with decisive action by law enforcement. "We are determined to strengthen our efforts in ensuring that law enforcement remains effective and vigilant, working towards a future where such incidents are a rare occurrence.'