By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Services (SAPS) in Eastern Cape have arrested two suspects and confiscated an AK-47 rifle in connection with the murder of a shop owner in Qumbu.
The arrest was made after community members discovered the body of the 55-year-old at his store in Debeza locality.
When police arrived at the scene, they found empty AK 47 cartridges next to the deceased man’s body.
An investigation ensued, led by Qumbu detectives and backed up by Stock Theft Unit members from the area.
Their joint effort led to the arrest of two male suspects, aged 19 and 24, both from the same area. Upon making the arrests, police also recovered an AK 47 automatic rifle without ammunition, which is assumed to be the murder weapon.
The rifle has been sent in for ballistic testing to determine if it can be linked to the aforementioned crime, and possibly other crimes, police said.
The motive for the gruesome murder of the deceased forms part of the ongoing investigation, and the duo will appear in the Qumbu magistrate court on a murder charge on Friday, 27 December 2024,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement issued on Thursday.
Major General Norman Modishana, who is the District Commissioner for the OR Tambo municipality, commended the detectives for their dedication and efforts to solve the murder case speedily, and for recovering a firearm that could have been used in other serious crimes.