Gauteng police have made a breakthrough after they arrested two suspects linked to the shooting and killing of five-year-old boy, Ditebogo Junior Phalane, in Soshanguve during a car hijacking last week.
The little boy had gone outside to welcome his father who had just arrived home when the criminals accosted him.
Ditebogo was then rushed to Botshilong Hospital, where he was certified dead upon arrival.
According to Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, the vehicle used during the crime, has also being recovered.
“The investigation led the team to specific addresses in Soshanguve where we arrested two suspects in different locations. In one of the locations in the house, the suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. In the other location we found the suspect not too far from the crime scene.
“We arrested him in possession of an unlicensed firearm linked to a car hijacking committed during 2023 in Akasia,” said Mthombeni.
Mthombeni said police went to a third house in Mabopane to look for a third suspect, but there was no one at the house.
A vehicle used in the commission of the crime, which has since been established that it was stolen, was found at the premises, including three magazines, pump gun bullets, jammer and a machine used to track the tracking system, were found at the house.
Police said a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting of Ditebogo has also been found.
Mthombeni highlighted that they have arrested the right suspects.
“Based on the investigation, we’re confident that it is the suspects that are linked with the murder and hijacking. But there has to me more investigations.
“We have unravelled other information also linking the other outstanding suspects.
“We’re moving to the right direction as we pursue the other suspects,” added Mthombeni.
The police said one of the suspects is a South African and they believe that the other suspects are foreign nationals.
The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
