Three men aged between 32 and 40 were arrested in Berea, Selby and Eloff Extension in Johannesburg on Monday in connection with the murder, attempted murder and armed robbery of a police officer and his girlfriend.
According to Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale, the incident occurred on Sunday in Benrose when W/O Jabulani Mabuza’s girlfriend had a vehicle mechanical failure as she drove up the Benrose West on-ramp.
“The complainant then called the W/O for assistance, and he went to the scene. Just as the tow truck driver arrived to assist with the vehicle, they were accosted by unknown suspects who pointed a firearm at them, disarmed the tow truck driver and shot Mabuza.
“They went to the other side [of the car] and pulled out Mabuza. As they did so, the tow truck driver managed to flee to his truck and drive to Jeppe police station for assistance.”
Mogale said Mabuza and his girlfriend managed to cross the freeway and were taken to Brenthurst Hospital for medical attention, where Mabuza died.
“During the operation, the team recovered three unlicensed 9mm firearms — two Barrett pistols and a Norinco pistol with a filed-off serial number — ammunition, a laptop, a cellphone and a silver-grey BMW suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime.”
Two firearms were stolen during the incident.
The three suspects are expected to appear in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Tuesday. They face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property.
TimesLIVE
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