The two suspects nabbed in connection with the murder of the detective commander of Villiers SAPS, 47-year-old Warrant Officer Neels du Rand, made brief appearances in court on Monday.

Fikile du Preez Ramotsoenyane (42) and Nkululeko Antonio (47) appeared at the Vanderbijlpark and Frankfort magistrate’s courts respectively, and stand accused of the gruesome murder of the detective head.

Du Rand sustained four gunshot wounds to his back and was declared dead on the scene by emergency services after he followed a hijacked truck in the early hours of Friday.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Josephine Rani reports that at about 02:45, Du Rand called Villiers Police Station informing them that he is following a hijacked truck on the gravel road between Villiers and Standerton, and he requested backup.

“The members of Villiers Police Station swiftly followed the information, and while searching for the member they noticed a portion of a wire fence damaged at a farm. They continued to check on the farm and discovered an Isuzu bakkie belonging to Warrant Officer Du Rand. They checked the vehicle and found the member in the vehicle motionless; they had to break the window to gain entrance into the vehicle.

“Nothing was taken from him or his vehicle. The hijacked truck was found abandoned about 8km towards Standerton, Mpumalanga,” she says.

Police spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirms the duo was arrested over the weekend.

“The duo was arrested by the Fezile Dabi District Trio Task Team during the past weekend. Ramotsoenyane was arrested at a residence in Vanderbiljpark where he was found in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, an Isuzu bakkie with police markings, police bulletproof vests, police uniforms, and an unlicensed R5 rifle.

“Antonio was arrested in Soweto on Saturday. This is a result of a spate of robberies committed in Cornelia, Free State, including a truck hijacking that occurred on the N3 highway.”

Mogale says the matter has been referred to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit based in Bethlehem for further investigation.

“Preliminary investigation linked the duo to three cases tracing back to the murder of Warrant Officer Du Randt. The matter was remanded and the two accused will appear again in the Frankfort Magistrate’s Court on June 20 for both accused to appoint their legal representatives.

“Ramotsoenyane also made a brief appearance in Vanderbiljpark Magistrate’s Court on June 12, for possession of stolen property, possession of police uniforms, and possession of unlicensed ammunition. He will be appearing again in the same court on June 19.”

The provincial head, Major-General Mokgadi Bokaba, commended the multi-disciplinary team led by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Unit for the success achieved in the arrest of the two suspects.

“Their tireless work over the weekend in bringing perpetrators to book is appreciated. The team will not rest until all perpetrators are brought to book.”