Media Statement from National Media Centre

Corporate Communication

South African Police Service

21 February 2013

PRETORIA: - On Thursday, 21 February 2013, the Hawks in the North West apprehended a suspect believed to be a trigger man in the murder of the North West African National Congress (ANC) regional secretary in the Kenneth Kaunda Municipality, Mr "Obuti" David Mosiane Chika.

The arrest led to the seizure of a firearm suspected to have been used in the murder. The weapon was recovered in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, during the early hours of this morning following a raid at a Johannesburg house.

The suspect, a 38-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal, is expected to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrates' Court tomorrow, the same court where his accomplices appeared earlier this week.

The six suspects, Jeffy Lutuka (28), Paul Molomonyane
(33), Keobakile Babuile (30), Itumeleng Molebatsi (50), William Malefo (46), and Kgotso Kali (36) are each facing a premeditated murder charge and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

Their case was postponed to Wednesday next week for a formal bail application. They were remanded in custody.

The North West Head of the Hawks, Major General Ntebo Mabula, applauded the team for the arrest. He said: "The team had been working around the clock to crack this case. The 9 mm pistol will be handed in for ballistics tests."

-End-

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HAWKS SPOKESPERSON

NATIONAL MEDIA CENTRE

Corporate Communication

South African Police Service

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