Teamwork between detectives of the Scottburgh and Hibberdene SAPS saw them source information on a suspect wanted for the killing of an Msinsini policeman in Hibberdene in November 2016 and suspects who were in possession of an unlicensed firearm, travelling north from Port Shepstone towards Durban on the N2 freeway on 2 August 2017.
The information was circulated to the members of the Umlazi K9 unit, Umzinto K9 unit and the Scottburgh SAPS Crime Prevention who responded and immediately sprang into action. The suspects were travelling in a silver VW Polo with Gauteng registration plates and a high speed chase ensued.
It is alleged that the members entered the freeway at Park Rynie, ahead of the suspects who were still being chased from further south. Exercising due caution the members approached the suspect’s vehicle from the rear, the policemen managed to expertly box the suspects in and bring their vehicle to a halt opposite the Scottburgh mall without a single shot being fired, any vehicle being damaged or anybody getting hurt.
The suspects had no time to even contemplate fleeing from the police as they were immediately surrounded by the members. There were four occupants in the VW Polo, one of them positively identified as the suspect wanted on a warrant of arrest for the murder of Constable Siyabonga Mbele (28) who was shot multiple times and killed in Makhoso Ward in Hibberdene on the night of 30 November last year.
The 23-year-old suspect also faced charges of attempted murder, armed robbery and theft of motor vehicle. The policeman’s service pistol had also been stolen at the time of his murder.
The trial of the other accused arrested in the case is currently under way and has been remanded until 1 September this year. The arrested suspect will join them in court to stand trial.
When police searched the Polo, they found two bags in the boot of the car. A gas gun was found in the one bag while an unlicensed 9mm pistol loaded with 15 rounds of live ammunition were found in the other. Police also found three balaclavas and two overalls in the vehicle that had been hired from a car hire company. The vehicle was impounded by police.
“This is sterling work by our members. Criminals must know that they cannot escape the long arm of the law. I have requested the detectives to profile the arrested men and to have the firearm tested by the ballistics experts to establish their possible involvement in other crimes. I am immensely pleased with the professionalism and dedication displayed by all the members who contributed to these successful arrests and recoveries,” said KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa.
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