Police Minister Senzo Mchunu confirmed the arrest of a Zimbabwean national linked to the brutal k*lling of five community patrollers over the weekend in the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, Pretoria.
Accompanied by Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Provincial Police Commissioner General Tommy Mthombeni, Mchunu visited the crime scene on Tuesday morning to assess the situation.
“The individual arrested is in South Africa unlawfully,” Mchunu stated. “We are still investigating the details of how and when he entered the country, but we can confirm that he is an undocumented foreign national.”
In addition to the arrest, the suspect was found with an unlicensed firearm, Mchunu noted. Several other individuals are currently being questioned in connection with the tragic event.
Mchunu expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, acknowledging the gravity of the incident.
The tragic events unfolded on Saturday when four individuals were shot and partially burnt during a confrontation between a community patroller and a group of people in Soshanguve. Authorities arrived at the scene around 6 a.m. and discovered the four deceased victims, who had sustained gunshot wounds. Eight others were taken to the hospital, but one later succumbed to injuries.
Initial investigations suggest that at approximately 3 a.m., five community patrollers encountered a group of individuals, sparking a deadly conflict. The motive behind the killings remains under investigation.
On Monday, IOL News reported that Premier Lesufi indicated the murd@rs could be connected to an extortion racket. In the area, residents are required to pay community patrollers R50 for protection, R50 for water services, and R350 for electricity. It is believed that a key figure, possibly incarcerated, is managing these illegal activities.
Lesufi shared, “I have detailed information, including data about individuals in prison who continue to control operations outside.”
