Traffic officer’s alleged killers arrested at Lesotho border post
Three people – two men aged 32 and 29, and a 20-year-old woman – have been arrested in connection with the murder of a traffic officer in Mpumalanga a few hours after the killing, Free State police said on Sunday.
The three were arrested as they tried to cross the border to Lesotho through the Maseru border post at 9.25pm on Friday night, Lt-Col Thandi Mbambo said.
Police officers were informed to be on the lookout for a black Jeep Compass with Lesotho registration plates, which was allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of a traffic officer in Standerton in Mpumalanga earlier on Friday.
The 37-year-old traffic officer was shot three times at about 3.35pm on Friday while attempting to issue a traffic violation fine in Standerton. He died instantly.
The car with three occupants fitting the description provided was stopped and searched at the border post. During the search the police found “a RAP 401 firearm” and ammunition and a traffic fine receipt book, alleged to have been stolen at the scene.
The three were arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and theft of state property. An additional charge of murder would be added and investigated by Standerton police. The three would appear in the Ladybrand and Standerton magistrate’s courts, Mbambo said.