Young dad dies in hail of bullets
Thanks to quick detective work, several suspects were arrested shortly after the incident
VEREENIGING. – Many questions still hang in the air after the shocking murder of a young Vanderbijlpark man, Mr Armand Swart, last week Wednesday in Duncanville.
As far as Vaalweekblad could determine, Armand had just opened the electric gate at his workplace in Van Riet Lowe Street, Duncanville, at around 07:00, to drive in when a small white vehicle suddenly pulled up next to him. Several shots were fired at Armand’s bakkie from the white vehicle, after which the attackers sped away. Armand was reportedly hit by more than 20 bullets. He died at the scene.
Van Riet Lowe Street was closed for quite a while on Wednesday while the police investigation was underway. The murder was captured by CCTV cameras in front of Armand’s workplace. Vaalweekblad has not yet succeeded in reaching the employer for comment. The company’s name is being withheld at this stage.
According to information received unofficially, two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz C Class and a Hyundai i20, were used in the attack. The police followed up on information that led them to Bramley, a residential area of Johannesburg. An operational plan was carried out and two suspects were caught and arrested. The Hyundai i20 with fake license plates was seized. An unlicensed AK47 rifle, two handguns and ammunition were also found and seized. A Mercedes Benz Viano, which is also linked to the attack, was subsequently located and a handgun, ammunition and spent cartridge were found in the vehicle.
Thanks to quick detective work, the Mercedes Benz C Class with fake number plates was also found along the R59 highway shortly afterwards. An unlicensed firearm and ammunition were found in the vehicle and another suspect was arrested at the scene. According to unconfirmed rumours, one of the suspects is a policeman stationed at the Johannesburg Police Unit.
Armand was the father of two young boys and had lived with his family in Vanderbijlpark for several years. By Vaalweekblad’s time of going to press, his family was still too shocked to speak to the media.
According to acquaintances of the family, Armand was a quiet, pleasant family man with no enemies. “It is shocking that a young father was torn away from his family in such a cruel way,” one of his upset neighbors told Vaalweekblad.
The police are investigating the motive for the murder.
