NINE SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN SOWETO LINKED TO SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE CRIMES
Late last night, police received information that a man was in possession of a stained bank note in Soweto. Members of the SAPS and JMPD proceeded to an address in Zondi Section, where they found a man in a house. When police entered, the suspect dived for a bag which was later found to have contained an AK47 rifle. After the suspect was secured, he was also found in possession of a pistol.
The suspect took our members to several addresses in Jabulani Section where a further eight suspects were arrested and two more guns (pistol and R4 rifle) were recovered. The suspects were found in possession of stained bank notes. Police also found more evidence linking the suspects to mall robberies and ATM bombings. More importantly, some of the suspects have been linked to the killing of Constable Fihliwe Bengeza.
Constable Bengeza was shot in the face when she and a colleague responded to a call about an ATM that was being bombed in Katlehong, in the East Rand. She later died in hospital. Bengeza was buried in a service which was attended by National Police Commissioner, General Bheki on Saturday. The suspects arrested in the early hours of this morning are very dangerous. They did not hesitate to shoot at police officers and law abiding members of the community.
Before the operation in Soweto was completed, the first suspect complained of stomach cramps. An ambulance was called, but paramedics declared the suspect dead on arrival. An investigation will be conducted to ascertain what was wrong with this suspect. The office of General Bheki Cele has applauded the arrests.
General Cele also hopes that none of the suspects arrested today were out on bail. Cele has said time and again that it is counterproductive in the fight against crime, to give career criminals multiple bails. These criminals he says, know nothing other than terrorizing law abiding citizens of this country.
Yesterday, police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of two SAPS employees on April 27. Tshepo Gumede appeared in court today. His case was postponed to the 9th of May for further investigation. These swift arrests show that the SAPS will not tolerate the killing of our members.
Statement issued by McIntosh Polela, SAPS national media centre, May 3 2011
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