A suspect who was wanted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) for alleged murder, attempted murder, possession of firearm and ammunition, possession of explosives and possession of suspected stolen property has finally been captured.
The suspects, Willington Cenenda (39), who appeared in the media two weeks ago, was arrested in a Crime Intelligence driven operation in Bloemfontein on Thursday, 26 July 2018, assisted by the local TRT members.
Cenenda was wanted for a 2016 case where he and his accomplices were involved in a shootout with the police. A twelve member group were conspiring to commit a cash in transit robbery in Mpumalanga. Police received information about a planned cash heist along the Delmas road and a swift operation involving the Hawks, Crime Intelligence and the Task Force was planned.
The Task Force members intercepted the alleged criminal group and a shootout ensued leaving three of the suspects dead and two injured. One of the task force members sadly lost his life in an accident during the engagement. Several high calibre firearms and vehicles were seized.
Cenenda appeared briefly at the Delmas High Court and will be joining his other accomplices on 20 August 2018 whilst in custody. Further investigations to link him to other cases continue.
The Minister of Police, Minister Bheki Cele (MP) has hailed the arrest of Cenenda as a major stepping stone in stamping the authority of the law in South Africa.
“We will as the South African Police Service continue to ensure we put a permanent stop to the scourge of cash in transit crime. It is our responsibility and mission to protect and secure the inhabitants of the republic and their property and ensure criminals are brought to justice.
“We are very serious about turning the tide, we will not rest until South Africans feel safe,” Minister Cele concluded.
Meanwhile the National Commissioner of Police General Khehla Sitole and the National Head of the DPCI Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya also welcomed the arrest and vowed to remain resilient in effectively breaking the backbone of organised crime and other criminal behaviour in the country.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
