The Provincial Commissioner of police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Deliwe de Lange, in February made a commitment that the South African Police Service would work around the clock to make sure police killers are brought to book. A team of detectives was subsequently deployed on a manhunt for five awaiting trial prisoners who escaped when a truck transporting them was attacked with high calibre firearms. The five were appearing on 5 February 2018 at the South Gauteng High Court in connection with the killing of three policemen in 2015, as well as armed robbery.
Lieutenant General De Lange has commended the tireless efforts of police officers following the apprehension of two suspects who are said to have been fatally wounded in a shootout with the police in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal in the early hours of Thursday, 01 March 2018. While information on the circumstances surrounding this shooting is yet to be confirmed, one of the deceased has been confirmed as one of the five escaped awaiting trial prisoners. The second was also on the list of the SAPS’ most wanted suspects after escaping in June last year.
Meanwhile, the same suspects have at this point been linked to a number of cases for crimes committed in Gauteng Province, including a business robbery at an Engen garage in Springs, where a member of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department was shot and killed on 13 February 2018. One other suspect was arrested within 24 hours of the Springs incident, and a high calibre firearm was recovered with ammunition after a joint intelligence driven operation. These suspects as well as the two deceased suspects have also been linked to at least 6 cases for crimes committed in Springs, Hillbrow, Dobsonville, Diepkloof, Randburg and Florida in 2017 and 2018.
In the wake of heightened attacks on police officers, the possibility that these suspects could be involved in other police killings cannot be overruled considering the killing of the EMPD officer and three other SAPS members who were killed between June 2017 and February 2018. At the same time, police will also be investigating possible linkages to other violent crimes committed in Gauteng and beyond the Province.
A total of four high calibre firearms were recovered – two AK-47, one R-4 and one 9mm pistol belonging to the deceased EMPD Constable. The latter two firearms and one AK-47 were recovered at the scene of the shooting in Newcastle.
“This success by our police members is most welcome as it comes against the backdrop of the recent massacre of five of our own in the Easter Cape. May their souls and the souls of all law enforcement officers who went before them rest in peace”, said the Provincial Commissioner. “We are encouraged by the diligent detective and intelligence work by our police members that we are on the right path to ensuring that crime, especially violent crime, is brought to its lowest levels in the Province”, added Lieutenant General De Lange.
Four suspects are still at large after the daring escape. Police are therefore still appealing to members of the public to look out for any suspicious people and vehicles and convey such information to the local police or Crime Stop at 08600 10111 at all hours.
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