Two suspects aged 23 and 26 are expected to appear in the Rustenburg and Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 20 August 2021, respectively, facing charges of murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
A multi-disciplinary approach driven operation conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Flying Squad, K9 Unit, TRT assisted by CAP Security, Brinant, and Fidelity Specialised Services resulted in the apprehension of two suspects in Silverton and Tlhabane on Wednesday, 18 August 2021.
The investigation team followed up on intelligence received on wanted suspects in a police murder case, driving towards North West. The suspects’ vehicle was intercepted on the N4 highway and upon searching, police recovered an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The suspect was immediately arrested and the vehicle was seized for investigation. Further investigation led the police to Tlhabane in the North West province where another suspect was apprehended in possession of unlicensed pistols, a rifle with ammunition as well as explosives.
It is alleged that one of the pistols seized during the operation was positively identified and linked to a murder case that occurred at Boschkop in May this year where a police officer was killed. It was reported that on-duty police officials attached to Boschkop SAPS intercepted a positively identified stolen vehicle in the area. Upon approaching the suspects’ vehicle, shots were fired in the police’s direction. One of the police officials, Constable Atlehang Nkgoeng (29), was fatally wounded as a result of a shoot-out that left his colleague wounded. The suspects allegedly took off with two police pistols in a vehicle reportedly hijacked at Vosman in Witbank, Mpumalanga.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa applauded the investigation team’s effort together with all role-players involved in successfully apprehending the alleged perpetrators and bring them to book. “A murder of a police officer is one too many for the South African Police. And it goes without saying that our team of dedicated investigators worked tirelessly to crack this case. We are proud that our late colleague’s family will find closure in court for his alleged murder,” said General Kadwa.