A suspect who was arrested by police after a shoot-out with a criminal gang in Weenen has been linked to the murder of Constable Nkosinathi Khumalo earlier this year.
At about 7.30pm on May 11 this year, off-duty police officer Constable Nkosinathi Khumalo (35) was shot and killed in Estcourt. He was dragged out of his vehicle and the killers fled in his car.
The officer’s car was recovered the following day in the Nhlawe area of Weenen.
The breakthrough in Khumalo’s murder case was achieved during a recent multi-disciplinary operation conducted by the SAPS in Nhlawe. During the operation, police officers confronted a heavily-armed criminal gang.
Also read: Veld fires run wild in Ladysmith
Also read: Police still hunting for thieves who stole from God
Also read: Human hand found in homestead near Ladysmith
The men resisted arrest and a shoot-out ensued. A 28-year-old suspect was fatally wounded during the exchange of gunfire, while a 21-year-old suspect was placed under arrest. Police seized two AK-47 rifles, an R5 rifle, an air gun and 101 rounds of ammunition at the scene.
Initial investigations indicate that the arrested suspect is positively linked to the constable’s murder.
The Provincial Commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula, has hailed the breakthrough into the killing of Constable Khumalo. “The arrest and recovery of these firearms shows that police officers in this province are closing in on criminal gangs who commit serious crimes in the false belief that they can evade law enforcement. These types of operations are going to be intensified so that we break this vicious cycle of serious and violent crimes in KZN,” said Lieutenant General Jula.
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
