By Everson Luhanga
- Police found an R5 rifle and a 9mm pistol in Mamelodi East, both stolen from officers killed during a patrol in Ivory Park.
- Two Mozambican men were arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms while the search for more suspects continues.
Two suspects have been arrested and two stolen police guns recovered after the brutal killing of two officers in Ivory Park, Johannesburg.
The South African Police Service has confirmed the arrested men are Mozambican nationals.
Police recovered a state-issued R5 rifle and a 9mm pistol during an intelligence-driven operation. The guns were taken during the deadly attack on Sergeant Rapetsoa and Constable Montja on Friday night.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: “The firearms have been positively identified as those belonging to the two officers who were killed in Ivory Park.”
Mathe said the National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, praised the officers for acting fast to recover the weapons.
The attack on the two officers happened in Extension 9, an area packed with taverns and spaza shops.
Just after 7:30pm on Friday, three men walked up to the patrol van and opened fire without warning. One officer was shot inside the van. The other was gunned down inside a nearby spaza shop.
The suspects took their cellphones, pistols and rifle before fleeing.
The two arrested suspects were found in Tembisa and Mamelodi East after teams from Crime Intelligence, the Hawks and the Sedibeng Tactical Response Team followed leads.
Police said the men are being charged, for now, with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The search for more suspects and the second missing 9mm pistol is still ongoing.
Brigadier Mathe said: “We will not rest until the suspects are found.”
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni visited the scene on Friday night and spoke to shocked officers. He offered condolences to the families of the two men.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app. Police say all information will be kept confidential.
Pictured above: The crime scene where two police officers were shot and killed in Ivory Park, Johannesburg.
Image source: Mfanelo Dzanibe
