Breakthrough in Belfast couple murder case

Police have made a breakthrough in the case of the brutal murder of an elderly couple whose bodies were found hidden in a refrigerator in their Belfast home, Mpumalanga, over a week ago.

The couple, Rudolf and Elna van Heerden, both 79, were robbed of their Toyota Prado vehicle and two firearms.

The vehicle broke down on the N4 to Middelburg. The killers abandoned it and went into the Mpumalanga town of Carolina, where they allegedly assaulted another elderly couple and made off with their Nissan bakkie.

On Saturday, Tshwane metro police responded to information from the Tracker recovery unit that the Nissan was headed for Mamelodi, east of Pretoria.

Metro police spokesman Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the metro police arrived shortly after a shoot-out between three men and Tracker personnel.

He said the suspects fled on foot but the police received a tip-off that one of them was hiding in a nearby house.

"An 18-year-old was found with a 9mm pistol," said Mahamba. "Its serial number was circulated and it was found to be one of the two firearms stolen from the murdered Belfast couple.

"The man then confessed to his involvement in the elderly couple's murder."

Mamelodi police spokesman Warrant Officer Michael Mbewe said other suspects were still at large but it was believed that one of them had been hit during the shoot-out.

"The suspects are armed and dangerous so the public should contact the nearest police station if they spot them," he said.

Mbewe said the detained suspect will appear in the Mamelodi Magistrate's Court today on charges of attempted murder, possession of a stolen firearm, ammunition and a stolen vehicle.

Mpumalanga police spokesman Colonel Leonard Hlathi said the suspect would also be taken to Mpumalanga today where he will be charged with the murder of the Belfast couple, house robbery, assault of the Carolina couple, and theft.

"We are also investigating other cases that might be linked to the suspect," he said.