JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – A 41-year-old suspect was arrested by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) in Yeoville on Wednesday, August 12, in connection with the murder of metro police officer Simon Mabatamela (60).
“JMPD officers have arrested a 41-year-old man in Yeoville in connection with the murder of Mabatamela, who was shot dead during a robbery in Rosettenville on Monday, July 27. He was charged with robbery and murder, and is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court soon,” JMPD Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.
Mabatamela was shot dead at the Rosettenville Junction Shopping Centre when he intervened in a robbery. He was in full uniform and came upon suspects trying to rob Pick ’n Pay security guards of money they were going to deposit at the bank. As he wrestled with one suspect, a second suspect shot him. After Mabatamela fell, he was shot again twice in the upper torso and died on the scene.
The suspects ran away with the money holder, in which a device exploded to give the money a red dye.
