Two brothers were denied bail in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court yesterday (August 6) after they were arrested in connection with the discovery of a burnt body in Putfontein in May and also a human head in a septic tank on a plot in Putfontein this week.
The suspects were remanded in custody and will reappear in court again on August 13.
The story unfolded after police opened an inquest docket in connection with the burnt body, which had evidence of a gunshot wound.
Coincidentally, around that time, a family came to the Putfontein SAPS to report a missing male family member. Working closely with the family, police were able to confirm the burnt body was that of their missing relative and a murder case was opened.
Gauteng Provincial SAPS spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said investigations into the murder led police to the landlord of a plot in Putfontein where the deceased had lived.
“On August 2, police found an illegal firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition on the property and the landlord was arrested,” said Peters. “On August 4, police followed up on more leads on this case and recovered five illegal firearms and ammunition in Benoni, but a suspect is yet to be arrested.
“On the same day, officers arrived at a different plot in Putfontein and searched the property. Six more firearms and ammunition were found, one of which was illegal, while a further search led police to a septic tank in which the human head was found,” she said.
“This led investigators to believe the same landlord could be linked to the murder of the person whose head was found in the septic tank – the body we believe the head belongs to was found in the area in June last year.”
A murder case was opened and the suspects, two brothers, were arrested for murder and for the possesion of illegal firearms and ammunition.
On August 5, investigations led police to three other addresses where illegal firearms and ammunition were found, bringing the total to 10 recovered illegal firearms of different calibres, including rifles.
The spokesperson said police are working closely with the prosecuting authorities as there is reason to believe the suspects may be implicated in both murders.
“At the same time, the possibility of the suspects being linked to more crimes cannot be ruled out, pending the outcome of the ballistic tests,” Peters said.
SAPS Gauteng Commissioner Lt Gen Elias Mawela has welcomed the recovery of 19 firearms by police during the investigation of a murder case in Putfontein.
Nine of these firearms have been confirmed as licenced but remain seized for ballistic testing, along with the other 10 and the illegal ammunition.
Mawela went on to commend the relentless efforts and commitment with which the detectives have approached this investigation, which has revealed a number of other crimes that could have gone undetected had it not been for their diligence.
“The recovery of so many illegal firearms is commendable in light of the recently released 2019/2020 crime statistics which reflect challenges in relation to contact crime, especially murder where the most common weapon is a firearm,” said Mawela.
He took the opportunity to remind owners of illegal and/or unwanted firearms and ammunition about the new firearm amnesty period which commenced on August 1 and which runs for six months, to January 31, 2021.
ALSO READ:
Help police identify decomposed body found in Putfontein
ALSO READ:
Police investigate murder case after burnt body found in Cloverdene
