Pretoria - National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, has applauded the Gauteng police’s Crime Intelligence Unit for the swift arrest of alleged police killers in the province.
This follows the arrest of Muntungani Mbatha, 39, and Similo Xaba, 33, on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Knox Chauke.
Chauke, a training coordinator at the Human Resources Division at SAPS’ head office, was gunned down last month in front of his house in Kagiso.
The attackers shot him several times but nothing was taken from him. Within days of Chauke being killed, members of the Gauteng Provincial Investigation Unit made the arrests.
Police also recovered a 9mm pistol and a .38 revolver from the suspects.
The suspects were also charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“The firearms taken from the suspects will be sent for ballistics testing to establish if they were used in the killing of Colonel Chauke or any other crimes,” SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said.
Makgale said both suspects have already appeared in the Kagiso Magistrate’s Court.
“Mbatha appeared on Monday [and] decided to abandon his bail application, which means that he will remain in custody. Xaba appeared on Tuesday and he will reappear on 15 July for a formal bail application,” Makgale said.
He said the police were confident more arrests will be made as investigations continue. - SAnews.gov.za
