Free State police have arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged killing of two police officers who were responding to a house robbery in Phuthaditjhaba on January 4.
Constables Sipho Mohapi and Gedione Motloung of Namahadi Visible Policing tragically lost their lives in the line of duty when the suspect opened fire, resulting in their deaths.
According to Colonel Katlego Mogale, the suspect, a Lesotho national who is in the country illegally, was traced and arrested in Phuthaditjhaba on Wednesday. The arrest was carried out by a team comprising the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Crime Intelligence, the Tactical Response Team (TRT), the Provincial Organised Crime Unit, and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC).
“He was caught horseback near Monontsha Port of Entry in an apparent attempt to escape into neighbouring Lesotho. The suspect was found in possession of a cellphone stolen during the robbery and a firearm suspected to have been used during the murders,” said Mogale.
The suspect is set to appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and robbery.
The National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General (Adv/Dr.) Godfrey Lebeya has praised the multi-disciplinary team for their relentless efforts.
Lebeya added that the search for the two remaining suspects is still ongoing.
The Star