Suspected killers of Sosh boy (5) to appear in court
The two suspects were arrested in different locations.
Two suspects alleged to be involved in the killing of five-year-old Ditebogo Phalane from Soshanguve UU are set to make their first appearance in the Pretoria Magistate’s Court on May 17.
Gauteng police boss Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni addressing the media on May 16 said two suspects were apprehended for the heinous killing and hijacking of the Phalane men.
The young boy’s life was tragically ended on Friday (May 10) during a violent hijacking incident involving his father.
“The police had a breakthrough, which led the team to specific addresses in Soshanguve, where two suspects were arrested.
One of the suspects was in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
At the other location, not too far from the crime scene, we also found the [second] suspect in possession of an unlicensed firearm,” said Mthombeni.
Mthombeni said the firearm is linked to a car hijacking, in 2023 in Akasia, and that police further went to a third location.
“The police couldn’t find the suspect but we have seen a vehicle that was reported stolen in Mabopane.
Based on the information received, the vehicle is linked to the commission of the crime in which the five-year-old was fatally wounded,” he said.
Mthombeni said a manhunt for more suspects in this tragic incident is still underway.
The police ministry, this week deployed a stabilisation team to flush out criminality in Soshanguve, Rietgat, Loate and Mabopane after the areas have been heavily impacted by violent crime recently.
This was in hopes that residents could now take back the streets and be safe from criminals with the help of the police stabilisation team.
Family spokesperson Gift Makoti previously told Rekord that the tragedy had struck their family most unimaginably.
He said as a family they are heartbroken and appeal to anyone with information to come forward to assist the authorities in their investigation.
Ditebogo became a big brother a week before his death.
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