Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia says a person of interest has been taken in for questioning, while two rifles belonging to SAPS members who were killed on Friday, along with two civilians in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni, have been recovered at the KwaDukathole informal settlement in Germiston.
The latest breakthrough follows an investigation by a multidisciplinary team consisting of various law enforcement authorities, including PRASA, which worked throughout the weekend.
Constables Sphiwe Sibeko and Thapelo Tlomatsane were ambushed on Friday while responding to a crime scene involving two female civilians.
“A multidisciplinary team consisting of the DPCI, the Hawks, whose main focus is organised crime, Gauteng Crime Intelligence and Special Operations, a provincial tracking team, a tactical response team, PRASA and the anti-gang unit worked tirelessly overnight and during the weekend and have achieved some results quite quickly, which demonstrates their commitment as well as their competence,” said Professor Firoz Cachalia during a media briefing in Reiger Park.
Cachalia, however, stressed that the investigations are ongoing.
“All the people who are involved in the four murders have not yet been arrested, and so the work of the police service and the prosecutorial arm of government is still ongoing,” explained Cachalia.
The Acting Minister also highlighted that the police top brass had visited the officers’ families in Brakpan and Mamelodi, adding that the officers’ families and communities had been devastated by the incident.
“There were many people, family members, friends and community members. At the houses of the two slain officers, it was very sad. The families are going through a very difficult time.
“The two officers were, as I indicated yesterday, two young men, aged 27 and 28, who joined the police service about two years ago,” remarked Cachalia.
The two officers will be laid to rest over the weekend.
