Both accused, Fikile Du Preez Ramotsoenyane (42) and Nkululeko Antonio (47) made a brief appearance before the Vanderbiljpark Magistrates’ Court on 12 June 2023 for possession of stolen property, possession of police uniforms and possession of unlicensed ammunition and later appeared the Frankfort Magistrates’ Court on the same day for the murder of Warrant Officer Johannes Cornelius du Rand.
The duo was arrested by the Fezile Dabi District Trio Task Team during the past weekend.
Ramotsoenyane was arrested at a residence in Vanderbiljpark where he was found in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, an Isuzu bakkie with police markings, police bulletproof vests, police uniforms and an unlicensed R5 rifle.
Antonio was arrested in Soweto on Saturday, 10 June 2023. This is as result of a spate of robberies committed in Cornelia, Free State including a truck hijacking that occurred on the N3 highway.
The matter was then referred to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation based in Bethlehem for further investigation.
Preliminary investigation linked the duo to three cases tracing back to the murder of the Warrant Officer Du Rand.
The matter was remanded and the two accused will appear again in the Frankfort Magistrates’ Court on 20 June 2023 for both accused to appoint their legal representatives.
Ramotsoenyane also made a brief appearance in Vanderbiljpark Magistrates’ Court on 12 June 2023 for possession of stolen property, possession of Police uniforms and possession of unlicensed ammunition.
He will be appearing again in the same court on 19 June 2023.
“The Provincial Head of Free State, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba commended the multi-disciplinary team led by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime for the success achieved in the arrest of the two suspects. Their tireless work over the weekend in bringing perpetrators to book is appreciated. The team will not rest until all perpetrators are brought to book”.
Read: Murder of Villiers detective Johannes Du Rand – 2 Suspects tracked down
