The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) General Khehla John Sitole has commended the swift arrest of a man in connection with the killing of a police Constable in Berea, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
On Friday, The National Commissioner ordered the implementation of the 72-hour activation plan in an effort to apprehend the suspect who shot and killed Constable Siphelele Cele.
Constable Cele was shot and killed by the suspect on Friday morning when he and another member stopped a suspicious looking vehicle in Berea, Durban.
The plan entailed the mobilisation of critical resources including Pietermaritzburg Crime Intelligence, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS), the Durban K9 unit and the Durban flying squad.
The suspect was arrested on the night of 25 January 2020, in Pietermaritzburg while attempting to board a bus to Johannesburg.
The suspect spotted the members as they were about approach him and he attempted to flee. The suspect was stopped and arrested through the use of the police K9. He was found in possession of a SAPS service pistol which was robbed from a police official in Umlazi in December 2019.
The suspect was arrested and detained at the Pietermaritzburg Police Station and initially charged for being unlawfully in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He was thereafter transported to Durban North Police Station where he was charged for the murder of Constable Cele.
The National Commissioner of the SAPS has applauded the multidisciplinary team for securing the arrest of the alleged perpetrator.
“The arrest of the suspect within 48 hours of the commission of this crime must be commended. This arrest should serve as a deterrent and warning to all who continue to undermine the authority of the State by attacking and killing law enforcement officers”.
We continue to call on our communities to work together with the SAPS to end these senseless killings and attacks on our members by sharing information on crime by downloading the MySAPS App or by calling the Crime Stop Hotline number on 0860010111.
Members of the public are reminded that they may remain anonymous and information will be treated with confidentiality.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
