UPDATE: Five arrested in connection with fatal police shootings
SANDRINGHAM – It is claimed that one of the suspects who was allegedly involved in the murder of two Sandringham police officers on the N3 highway has been arrested in Durban.
UPDATE: 7 April 2015, 12pm – According to Colonel Noxolo Kweza on 6 April, Gauteng police arrested five suspects – four in connection with the killing of two police members on the N3 highway, and one connected to the Park Station fatal shooting.
The suspects were arrested around Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
An operation, co-ordinated by the Warroom, the Provincial Investigation Unit and members of the private sector who all worked closely together, resulted in the arrest some of the suspects in KZN, while others were arrested in Gauteng. One of the suspects has been linked to the killing of Constable Ledwaba who was shot while responding to a robbery near Park Station in Joburg. Four others suspects have been linked to the shooting incident on the N3 highway where Constables Mothokozisi Myeza and Casey Mafakoane were killed. One suspect was arrested at the scene after he was shot and injured, but he later succumbed to his wounds.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba said, “We are grateful to the community members who phoned us and gave information immediately after the two incidents. Our detectives followed up several leads and some of them were positive while others did not yield any positive results This break-through could not have materialised without the assistance and the partnership the Saps has with various communities. Police investigations are continuing and Saps will ensure that all suspects involved in police killings are brought to book.”
The suspects are due to appear in the Durban, Johannesburg and Alexandra Magistrates’ courts today.
UPDATE: 7 April 2015, 9am –According to reports,it is believed that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the cop killing that have plagued the city of Joburg over the past few weeks.
Reports further state that police were led to these suspects from anonymous tips from the public. Four of the suspects arrested are beleived to be linked to the killing of Constables Mothokozisi Myeza and Casey Mafakoane at the N3 shootout recently.
The fifth suspect is allegedly linked to the killing of Constable Malesela Ledwaba, who was gunned down at Park Station.
Click here to read our exclusive interview with the only surviving cop from the N3 shootout.
INITIAL REPORT: 6 April 2015, 7am – The shootout took place on the Modderfontein Road offramp on the N3 highway on 30 March.
A source close to the police informed North Eastern Tribune of the information on Easter Sunday, but after calling several police spokespersons, the information could not be verified. However, the South African Police Services have since posted the information on their Facebook page.
A crime intelligence operation, conducted with a Special Task Force and a Provincial Tracking Team, tracked down the suspect in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal.
Details of the arrest remain unclear at this time.
The suspect was allegedly found in possession of an illegal 9mm pistol, one magazine and eight live rounds. Police say the firearm was stolen. The suspect was out on bail for several cases including a business robbery in Klerksdorp in 2013 where he was allegedly found in possession of an AK47, a R303 rifle and a 9mm pistol. He is also out on bail for an attempted murder during a business robbery in Sun City on 22 April 2009.
It is believed the suspect is currently being detained at Durban Central Police Station.
Updates to follow as official confirmation and further details become available.
