Police have arrested a suspected police killer within eight hours after the deceased was murdered.
The suspect, aged 33, was arrested by a multidisciplinary police team comprising Limpopo and Gauteng police officers.
In the early hours of Saturday, an off duty police official, who was stationed at SAPS Burgersfort, was allegedly gunned down in Lebowakgomo by unknown assailants, who were driving in a bronze Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt General Godfrey Lebeya, immediately activated a 72-hour-plan to hunt down the suspects.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender, led the multidisciplinary team comprising the Limpopo Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation Tracking Team, South African Police Service Crime Intelligence from national office, SAPS Gauteng Highway Patrol, Bravlor Risk, Tracker Connect, ICB-Insurance Crime Bureau, BadBoyz Security, GTP Sleu, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and Trio Tactical.
After conducting a thorough investigation, the team was led to Braamfontein in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province on the very same day on Saturday.
The suspected vehicle with three occupants was spotted driving in the area and it was followed and tactically cornered.
The driver of the vehicle was suspected to be the one that killed the cop in Lebowakgomo and he was placed under arrest. Further investigation led the team to his residential address at Rooihuiskraal in Centurion, Pretoria.
Upon searching the house, the team found a firearm suspected to have been used in the murder of the police officer and it was seized.
The team also seized a vehicle (GTI Golf 7), large amount of money and a cellphone.
The investigation to establish if the suspect is involved in other crimes is underway.
The suspect will appear in the Lebowakgomo Magistrate's Court to face murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and other possible charges.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt General Godfrey Lebeya has appreciated the swift reaction of the team.
"Although there was a 72 hour operational plan in place, the case was cracked within eight hours," Lt General Lebeya said. – SAnews.gov.za
