A Lesotho national was arrested for the murder of an alleged illegal mining kingpin at Zhangoma Village on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old assailant was nabbed on Thursday at about 15:30, during a joint operation conducted by the Tzaneen detectives, the Tzaneen Cluster Trio Task Team and members of the Crime Prevention Unit led by Colonel Cecil Machimane.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said that their members acted on a tip-off from members of the community and intercepted the suspect at a local taxi rank.
He was allegedly en-route to Gauteng. During the arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a revolver, 11 rounds of ammunition, four cell phones and an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be some of the money he stole from the victim.
Ngoepe said that the preliminary investigations revealed that the recovered firearm was reported missing by the owner in February this year, in Matsulu area in the Mpumalanga Province.
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“Further investigations will still be conducted to determine whether the firearm was used in other crimes,” said Ngoepe.
Police reported that Moyo arrived at a house in Zanghoma Village from Carnival City in Gauteng to pay his illegal miners.
“The victim was outside the house talking to some of the employees when an unknown man entered the yard, shot him and fled on foot with his cellphone and an undisclosed amount of money,” said Ngoepe.
The victim was certified dead on the scene. At the time of going to press, the suspect was due to appear in the Nkowankowa Magistrate Court on charges of murder, robbery, possession of suspected stolen properties and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has commended the Tzaneen Cluster Commander, Major General Maggy Mathebula and her team for implementing the 72-hours activation plan to ensure that the perpetrator is arrested as soon as possible.
Ledwaba further praised community members for their continuous support in providing valuable, quality and positive information which led to this arrest of the suspect.
