The National Police Commissioner, General Bheki Cele praised the police officers that have speedily tracked down the Soweto cop killers and the armed robbers in yesterday's Greytown robbery.
Gauteng
Police in Gauteng have made an early breakthrough in the murder investigation of the two Soweto police officers, Warrant Officer Dzialwa Reuben Kundwani (48) and Constable Letjeku Abel Thenga (25). The two patrol officers were mercilessly ambushed at Mzimhlope hostel on Sunday night, 19 December 2010. Yesterday, members from Gauteng Crime Intelligence and Hawks tracked down a vehicle carrying four passengers.
A shootout between the police and the suspects resulted in the wounding of one of the suspects and the arrest of the other three. The wounded suspect is one of the suspects being sought for the killing of the two police officers and he was also found in possession of a Z88, police issue 9mm pistol with its serial number filed off. The other three men were arrested for also being in unlawful possession of a second 9mm pistol. More arrests in connection with this case is imminent.
KwaZulu-Natal
In another incident yesterday, four armed robbers were shot dead during a shootout with police in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal. Yesterday at approximately 07:15 am a group of armed men robbed China Engineering in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal and fled with a variety of personal items. Police officers from the surrounding area were alerted to be on the lookout of the getaway vehicle. Their vigilance paid off when an hour after the robbery the suspect vehicle was spotted by members of the Kranskop SAPS. Efforts to stop the suspects resulted in a major shootout, the consequences of which saw all four suspects being shot dead. The stolen items which included jewelry, wallets and cell phones were recovered as well as three 9mm pistols were found in possession of the suspects.
These firearms will undergo ballistic testing to establish if they were used in the commission of other crimes. The National Commissioner praised the members for their steadfast perseverance, for putting their lives on the line and emerging from the gun battles, not only victorious, but more importantly for emerging unscathed. The General has called on all members around the country to continue applying pressure on criminals to a point that they fold. "The message of these incidents is very clear, we will not take kindly to being shot at and police indeed have the necessary proficiency to deal with such violent situations effectively", said General Bheki Cele. "May this be a warning to other potential criminals who dare to try and shoot at police, this will be the result. If people are wanted by the police, rather surrender agreeably" added General Cele.
Enquiries:
Vishnu Naidoo - Colonel (Spokesperson)
Tel: 012 400 6573
Cell: 082 567 4153
Fax: 012 400 7018
E-mail: mediacentre@saps.org.za
Source: South African Police Service
