FIVE SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR THE ALLEGED MURDER OF A JOHANNESBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER

GAUTENG – A multi-disciplinary approach driven operation conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime, Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Highway Patrol and Traffic Police, Soweto West Trio Task Team, as well as the Jabulani Crime Prevention yielded positive results when they successfully apprehended five male suspects in connection with the alleged murder of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer, Neo Sepuru (26) on 31 March this year.
It is alleged that Sepuru, who was still in uniform, was driving his private vehicle returning from a departmental soccer match in Malboro when he was hijacked outside his residential place in Dube Village, Soweto.
Further investigation revealed that the suspects hijacked a Honda Ballade in the same vicinity earlier on where they hijacked Sepuru, but abandoned it due to alleged mechanical glitches. They allegedly proceeded to Sepuru and hijacked him, shot and undressed him of uniform. Sepuru sustained fatal wounds on his upper body. The suspects allegedly burned Sepuru’s vehicle at the hostel on the same night he was hijacked.
The investigation team worked around the clock in tracing the suspects and kept surveillance at their residential place. Police pounced on the suspects at hostels in Diepkloof and Jabulani on Thursday evening and successfully apprehended them.
Upon searching the premises, a positively identified White Toyota Quest alleged to have been used the day Sepuru was brutally murdered and a norinco pistol were confiscated.
The suspects aged between 20 and 55 were charged with murder and possession of unlicensed firearm. They are expected to appear in the Protea Magistrates Court on Monday, 26 April 2021.
More arrests cannot be ruled out and investigation continues.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) management commends the police who worked tirelessly in ensuring the arrest of the five suspects for the alleged murder of JMPD officer Neo Sepuru. This relentless spirit shown by law enforcement proves that no stone was left unturned in seeking and apprehending the wanted suspects. These arrest sends a strong message that there is no place for such heinous acts in our country. We really condemn the senseless murder of Sepuru and we hope that the full weight of the law hits hard on the perpetrators knowing that Sepuru’s death was not in vain.