Within 8 hours, Hawks apprehended a police sergeant killer.
Pretoria – A multidisciplinary team arrested the accused police killer, 33, within 8 hours of the deceased’s murder.
An off-duty police officer stationed at SAPS Burgersfort was allegedly gunned down in the Lebowakgomo area in the early hours of 15 July 2023 by unknown gunmen driving in a Bronze Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI.
Lt General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, immediately started a 72-hour strategy to track down the suspects.
Limpopo Hawks’ Serious Organized 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 led the multidisciplinary team.
On the same day (15 July 2023), the crew was directed to Braamfontein in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, after completing a comprehensive investigation.
The suspected vehicle, which had three occupants, was seen driving in the vicinity and was tracked and tactically surrounded.
The suspect will appear in the Lebowakgomo Magistrate’s Court soon to face murder, unlicensed firearm and ammunition possession, and other relevant offences. The driver of the vehicle was suspected of being the one who killed the cop in Lebowakgomo, and he was arrested. Further inquiry took the crew to his residence at Rooihuiskraal in Centurion (Pretoria). During the search, the team discovered and seized a firearm suspected of being used in the murder of the deceased. The squad also seized a vehicle (a GTI Golf 7), a big sum of money, and a smartphone.
The inquiry to determine whether the suspect is engaged in any additional offenses is now underway.
The suspect will appear in the Lebowakgomo Magistrate’s Court soon to face murder, possession of an unregistered firearm and other possible charges
Lt General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, praised the team’s quick response. “Despite having a 72-hour operational plan in place, the case was solved in 8 hours,” Lt General Lebeya remarked.