Gauteng Police have confirmed the arrest of the suspects linked to the murder of a JMPD officer Matome Mokoena, who was shot dead while on duty on Wednesday in Vlakfontein.
It is reported that he and a colleague were responding to a robbery when they stopped a vehicle that matched the suspect’s description.
“As Mokoena and his colleague approached the vehicle on the driver’s side, shots were fired from inside the car. Both officers were wearing bulletproof vests and took cover, however, the suspects tracked Mokoena to a nearby home. They shot him, stole his service pistol and fled in the marked patrol vehicle and the vehicle was recovered in Lenasia after being disabled remotely,’ the police said.
According to reports, Officer Mokoena and his colleague were responding to a robbery on Wednesday when they initiated a stop on a vehicle that conformed to the suspect’s description.
The SABC reported that the same gunmen are believed to have killed another person on the same night in the area.
This arrest comes as the City of Johannesburg’s public safety committee categorised the killing of Mokeona as an attack on the safety of the city with the city’s MMC for Public Safety Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku welcoming the successful arrest and detention of all suspects involved in the killing of Mokoena.
“We commend the exceptional work done by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit (TRU), K9 unit, and all JMPD officers involved in the operation. Their dedication and professionalism have ensured that justice is served. We further urge the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure the suspects remain in detention and face the full consequences of the law for their heinous actions,” the MMC said.
