Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Hawks have revealed that the two men accused of the murder of a Free State police officer were found in possession of several police supplies and firearms when they were arrested at the weekend.
Fikile Du Preez Ramotsoenyane, 42, and Nkululeko Antonio, 47, briefly appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the possession of stolen property, possession of police uniforms and possession of unlicenced ammunition.
They also appeared in the Frankfort Magistrate’s Court the same day for the murder of Warrant Officer Johannes Cornelius du Rand.
Du Rand was killed while responding to a crime scene last week. The 48-year-old had called his colleagues at Villiers Police Station for backup, informing them that he was following a hijacked truck on the gravel road between Villiers and Standerton.
He was found dead in his vehicle by his colleagues. He had been shot four times in the back.
At the time of his death, Du Rand had 29 years of service with the SA Police Service.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the Fezile Dabi District Trio Task Team arrested the two men over the weekend.
Ramotsoenyane was arrested at a house in Vanderbiljpark, where he was found in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, an Isuzu bakkie with police markings, police bulletproof vests, police uniforms and an unlicensed R5 rifle.
Mogale said:
The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba commended the team for the “success achieved” by arresting the two suspects.
“Their tireless work over the weekend in bringing perpetrators to book is appreciated. The team will not rest until all perpetrators are brought to book.”
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