Boksburg SAPS spokesperson, Sgt Cebisa Maseko said the suspect, who currently resides in the informal settlement, was arrested after a foot chase, following a tip-off about his whereabouts.
“In an attempt to avoid capture, as the officers approached the suspect, he suddenly ran away and a chase on foot ensued through the settlement.
“Officers fired some warning shots for the man to stop fleeing, but he continued running. After he ignored the warning shots police subsequently fired another shot which struck the man, before he was apprehended,” said Maseko.
The suspect was rushed to hospital for treatment, and later detained in the Boksburg police holding cells.
He was arrested in connection with cases ranging from murder to attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
These include the latest murder case, whereby a man identified as Mandi Lucky Nkotsele died after he was shot in the informal settlement on September 11.
The man, whose name is known to the Advertiser, was also on the list of the police’s most-wanted persons on the run.
He was wanted for several violent crimes recently committed in Boksburg and Tembisa.
He was also recently released from prison after serving time for murder.
Police are encouraging other victims and witnesses to come forward.
To share information on the aforementioned cases, members of the community can contact the Boksburg SAPS crime office on 011 841 6843.
One concerned police officer described the arrest as a breakthrough in the perpetual slaying of people in the informal settlement, mostly on weekends.
He told this paper that the arrested man is among known criminals, mostly foreigners, in the settlement, but residents don’t come forward with information as they fear being victimised should the suspects not be convicted or are released on bail.
There have been a number of homicides and multiple attempted murder cases involving guns and knives reported in the area since beginning of the year.
In recent times, five people were shot dead in separate shootings across the informal settlement during the weekend of September 9 to 11.
On September 11, a man identified as Thato Ramabuka was gunned down at his home in the settlement, at about 7.30pm.
Meanwhile, on September 9, a man identified as Ramahetlana died after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was allegedly shot by a group of BaSotho nationals believed to be illegal miners in one of the Boksburg disused mineshafts.
Also on September 9, two bodies were found lying on the side of Main Reef Road, a few metres apart from each other, in Angelo informal settlement.
A number of stones were found next to the bodies and police believe that the pair were stoned to death on Friday night.
Another man died after he was shot in the head at about 3am on September 11. -@FanieFLK
