| Wounded body of a kidnapped police officer found and eight suspects arrested | |
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| Date Published: | 2022/07/08 |
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Media Statement GAUTENG – The unresponsive body of a 38-year-old police sergeant attached to the Hillbrow Community Service Centre of the South African Police Service was found on an open field in Mapelton area near R103 Old Heidelberg road on Wednesday, 06 July 2022. A passer-by herding cattle alerted the authorities when he saw the body of an unknown man and preliminary investigation revealed that he sustained a fatal gunshot wound on his lower stomach. Sergeant Siyabonga Enoch Shabalala was last seen with his sister on Tuesday, 05 July 2022 on Moriri Street, Windmill Park, Johannesburg when they were approached by three armed men. The suspects allegedly pushed his sister out of the vehicle and shot the off duty police officer before driving away with the injured policeman in his vehicle. His vehicle was later recovered at Ulandolozo Street, Mailula Section in Vosloorus on Wednesday, 06 July 2022. Three suspects, Tumelo Molapo (30), Laurence Marindze (28) and Aubrey Shabalala (42) were arrested by the Provincial Investigation Unit (PIU), Gauteng’s Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, High way patrol, Johannesburg Metro Police K9, Ekurhuleni Metro Police STT and Johannesburg Flying Squad. They were allegedly found stripping the hijacked vehicle and a firearm was also found in the premises. They appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates for charges of possession hijacked vehicle and vehicle parts as well illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. The case against the trio was postponed for Monday, 11 July 2022. Meanwhile five more suspect between the ages of 23 and 30 were arrested by an integrated police team that includes the National Crime Intelligence, Gauteng’s Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, High way patrol, Johannesburg Metro Police K9, Ekurhuleni Metro Police STT and Johannesburg Flying Squad on Thursday, 07 July 2022. The team pounced on suspects allegedly involved in the killing of the police sergeant in a premises used a hideout on Phelinda Street Phumula. During a search three Firearms were recovered which includes one Z88 pistol belong to the deceased police sergeant, a 9 MM Pistol Barret belonging to Stallion Security which was allegedly robbed at Alberton in October 2021. All five suspects arrested are expected to appear along with the previously arrested trio in the Boksburg Magistrates Court on Monday to face charges of murder, kidnapping, car hijacking. Ends
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