SEDIBENG – A duo of Mozambican nationals was arrested on December 1, and two stolen firearms were recovered.
According to police spokesperson, an intelligence-driven operation comprising different units, including the Sedibeng Tactical Response Team, led to the success.
This comes after Sergeant Rapetsoa and Constable Montja were ambushed and disarmed of their firearms before they were brutally murdered in Ivory Park, Johannesburg, on Friday evening.
In a statement, National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the recovered firearms were positively identified.
“SAPS mobilised maximum resources to ensure they find the killers of the two police officers, as well as to recover the state-issued firearms. Our crime intelligence officers and members of the Sedibeng Tactical Response Team (TRT) led the HAWKS to Tembisa and Mamelodi East, where they recovered one SAPS-issued 9mm pistol and a SAPS R5 rifle with several rounds of ammunition,” she said.
Mathe said as investigations continue into the murder of the two police officers, the suspects will, for now, only face a charge of being in the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
“The search for other suspects and the other 9mm state pistol continues,” she said.
The National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, has applauded the team for working tirelessly and moving with speed to find the stolen firearms and ultimately find those responsible for the murders of both police officers.
