Three men suspected of killing a police officer in Tsolo , Eastern Cape, have been arrested.
They are due to appear in the Tsolo magistrate’s court today.
Within a month, three policemen have been killed in the OR Tambo district. Two of the killings were in Tsolo and the other in Bhityi.
The three suspects, aged between 30 and 33 years, are alleged to have been involved in the killing on August 5 of Sgt Obey Sotewu, 50, who was attached to the Mthatha stock theft unit.
The men were arrested on Thursday by the Mthatha-based serious organised crime investigation team of the Hawks in conjunction with the tactical response team.
Hawks’ provincial spokesperson W/O Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said yesterday that they would be facing charges of murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“Sotewu's body was found riddled with bullets inside his state vehicle at the Langeni Sawmill on August 5. His pistol was also stolen,” Mhlakuvana said.
Provincial police spokesperson Col Priscila Naidu said the policeman had been off duty.
“It is alleged that at about 9.40pm, the police official and a friend were drinking at the local tavern,” she said.
“When they left, security guards heard gunshots and on investigating found the policeman dead inside his vehicle.
“He sustained multiple gunshot wounds while the friend disappeared with the police officer’s service pistol.”
Mhlakuvana said a search was launched for Sotewu’s killers, with the suspects arrested on Thursday.
“The team received information about the suspects, who were driving a blue Toyota Tazz. The vehicle was spotted near Ross Mission on the R61 towards Ngcobo.
“Police stopped the suspects and one fled on foot, leaving two suspects in the vehicle.”
The man who fled was eventually arrested and found with a 9mm pistol and 11 live rounds in his possession.
“The firearm found was confirmed to be that of the murdered police official. The two suspects in the vehicle were found in possession of a Glock 9mm pistol with 18 live rounds.”
The killing of Sotewu was the second incident in a month in Tsolo.
Suspected cop killers arrested in the Eastern Cape
Police murders rife in OR Tambo district
Image: Gareth Wilson
Three men suspected of killing a police officer in Tsolo , Eastern Cape, have been arrested.
They are due to appear in the Tsolo magistrate’s court today.
Within a month, three policemen have been killed in the OR Tambo district. Two of the killings were in Tsolo and the other in Bhityi.
The three suspects, aged between 30 and 33 years, are alleged to have been involved in the killing on August 5 of Sgt Obey Sotewu, 50, who was attached to the Mthatha stock theft unit.
The men were arrested on Thursday by the Mthatha-based serious organised crime investigation team of the Hawks in conjunction with the tactical response team.
Hawks’ provincial spokesperson W/O Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said yesterday that they would be facing charges of murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“Sotewu's body was found riddled with bullets inside his state vehicle at the Langeni Sawmill on August 5. His pistol was also stolen,” Mhlakuvana said.
Provincial police spokesperson Col Priscila Naidu said the policeman had been off duty.
“It is alleged that at about 9.40pm, the police official and a friend were drinking at the local tavern,” she said.
“When they left, security guards heard gunshots and on investigating found the policeman dead inside his vehicle.
“He sustained multiple gunshot wounds while the friend disappeared with the police officer’s service pistol.”
Mhlakuvana said a search was launched for Sotewu’s killers, with the suspects arrested on Thursday.
“The team received information about the suspects, who were driving a blue Toyota Tazz. The vehicle was spotted near Ross Mission on the R61 towards Ngcobo.
“Police stopped the suspects and one fled on foot, leaving two suspects in the vehicle.”
The man who fled was eventually arrested and found with a 9mm pistol and 11 live rounds in his possession.
“The firearm found was confirmed to be that of the murdered police official. The two suspects in the vehicle were found in possession of a Glock 9mm pistol with 18 live rounds.”
The killing of Sotewu was the second incident in a month in Tsolo.
Suspected Thembisa ‘cop killer’ arrested in Limpopo
Off-duty W/O Inani Mbombo, 51, was stoned to death on July 8.
Lungisani Fantein, 34, Khanyisa Mdedelwa, 28, Siphumeze Mancipha, 26, and Sibongakonke Galana,19, are accused of the murder of Mbombo, and their matter is being heard in the Tsolo magistrate’s court
It is alleged they chased down and stoned Mbombo to death after he had allegedly shot a patron during an argument at the Philakuzenzela tavern in Ntshiqo village.
The men were arrested hours after the murder.
Fantein faces a further charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances and unlawful possession of a firearm, while Mdedelwa faces a further charge of assault.
Mbombo was attached to the Mthatha police unit and based at former president Nelson Mandela’s homestead in Qunu near Mthatha.
Six days before the killing of Mbombo, Const Asive Xolela Dudumayo, 30, a Bhityi police officer, was shot dead in Enyibeni village, Bhityi, on July 2, when he was chasing a suspect in Bhityi.
Two suspects were arrested.
On January 14 2022, Mthatha stock theft unit's Det-Sgt Mthandeni David Skomela, 46, was shot dead by heavily armed gunmen at his Old KwaLindile village, near Mthatha, in full view of his wife, Nomonde, children and grandchildren.
Police provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Nomthetheleli Mene condemned the murder of Sotewu, saying any act of violence against police officers was an attack on society.
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