Former Orlando Pirates player Patrick Phungwayo made a brief appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court following his arrest by the Hawks on Tuesday, November 16.
Phungwayo and his accomplice are suspected of being involved in a string of car hijackings, robberies and theft.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed to the Northsider that preliminary investigations have linked the two suspects to a number of stolen items that include a television set that was positively identified by a victim whom the suspects had allegedly robbed in Honeydew.
“We are also investigating links to other robberies, and are not ruling out the possibility of arresting more suspects,” said Mogale.
The Hawks’ Tactical Operational Management Section with Crime Intelligence, arrested the two suspects aged 33 and 46 in Lombardy East.
The team received information about a gang of armed men using an Audi during hijackings and home invasions in Gauteng suburbs.
The gang was later spotted in Lombardy East before the police intercepted them when they entered residential premises and apprehended them.
Three firearms, housebreaking implements, gloves, balaclavas and a stolen television set as well as cell phones were found inside the vehicle.
The case was postponed to Monday, November 22 for further investigation, and a formal bail application on Thursday, November 25.
