The national police spokesperson, Vish Naidoo, this morning confirmed to OFM News that the police’s preliminary investigations revealed that the four are all related. On Sunday night, police arrested two suspects in different locations, including Soweto and Secunda, and on Monday night another two were arrested in Soweto where the stolen gun from the slain officer, Lloyd Poonyane (41), was retrieved. 

Poonyane and Lydia Tladi (45) came under attack in Orkney outside Klerksdorp in the North West after they followed up on a complaint in the Vierfontien area in the Free State. The four accused are expected to appear in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 13 February on charges of murder and attempted murder, amongst others.

One suspect is still believed to be at large and those who have been arrested are between the ages of 25 and 38. OFM News previously reported that five firearms, vehicles allegedly used during the proceeds of the said crime in Orkney, and several cell phones were recovered. “Preliminary investigations also revealed that all the suspects involved are from one family (they are uncles and cousins). 

On Sunday morning, after being briefed of this attack, the National Commissioner Kehla Sitole ordered that the investigative team should not rest until those responsible are arrested and brought to book,” Naidoo adds.

Sitole has welcomed the arrest of the suspects involved in the matter. Poonyane and Tladi form part of a long list of officers who have been attacked and killed in the country by criminals since the start of the year 2020. Police, which includes the Hawks and forensic experts, have been relentless in their pursuit of the suspected criminals since the incident on Saturday night in Orkney and their break came the following night, within less than 48 hours of the 72-hour SAPS activation plan. 

This, as they arrested their first suspect in Soweto near Johannesburg in Gauteng and another in Embalenhle near Secunda in Mpumalanga. These suspects allegedly attacked and shot at these two police officers after an argument ensued between them.

OFM News