The South African Police Service National Commissioner, General Khehla John Sitole, has commended the tireless efforts of the multi-disciplinary team who within 24 hours, secured the arrest of two wanted suspects believed to be behind the fatal shooting of an off-duty Crime Intelligence Warrant Officer on Thursday evening, 05 November 2020 in Extension 1, Eldorado Park.
It is reported that the warrant officer was chatting to an acquaintance when one of the suspects approached and allegedly fired shots directly at the deceased. The member was certified dead on the scene after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
The Province then ordered the immediate mobilisation of the 72-hour Activation Plan, on which the intelligence-led integrated team comprising of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), K9 Units of the JMPD and the SAPS in Soweto, the Specialised Law Enforcement Unit from Gauteng Traffic Police, and other law enforcement disciplines, responded and within 24 hours, traced and arrested two suspects aged 35 and 40 in Eldorado Park.
The motive for the murder of the police officer is yet to be determined.
In the meantime, further investigations are underway to establish possible linkage of the suspects to other crimes. At this point, the two have been linked to an attempted murder case reported at Eldorado Park SAPS after the fatal shooting of the member.
The National Commissioner has praised the immediate implementation of the 72-Hour Activation Plan by the Province which led to the arrest of the perpetrators hours after they had allegedly killed the Warrant Officer. “No suspect linked to the murder of a police officer should ever get to roam the streets free. I am glad that these two alleged police killers are behind bars. I therefore urge the investigating team to ensure that they build a solid case to present in court to ensure that these men eventually receive harsh sentences,” said General Sitole.
