Police arrested two suspects, including an undocumented Zimbabwean, on 24 March 2025 in connection with a series of murders and armed robberies in Soshanguve.
Police Trace and Arrest Suspects
According to South African Police Services, officers received intelligence on 24 March regarding a group of suspects allegedly responsible for multiple murders and attempted murders in the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve on 22 March.
The two arrested suspects, aged 27 and 50, allegedly link to other murders and house robberies that occurred on February 21.
Acting on this information, law enforcement traced the first suspect to Soshanguve Extension 20, where they recovered an unlicensed 9mm Girsan firearm with ammunition.
However, the firearm’s serial number was filed off.
Officers apprehended the second suspect at a residence in Soshanguve Extension 6.
During the arrest, police found the suspect in possession of an unlicensed 9mm CZ firearm with ammunition.
The serial number also filed off.
Police Investigation and Suspect Search Ongoing
According to DailyMaverick, the patrollers died during a violent confrontation with a group of suspected criminals.
The initial death toll was four, with eight others injured.
Over the weekend, doctors confirmed that a fifth person died in hospital, and on Tuesday morning, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Sipho Mchunu, confirmed that a sixth person died while receiving treatment in hospital.
Authorities have confirmed the arrest of one suspect in the vicinity, aligning with their initial suspicions. Mchunu stated, “At this particular stage, we know that officers arrested one person just around here, as we suspected.”
He added, “We wouldn’t have suspected that someone would come from Mpumalanga or North West to do this,” noting that police had initially believed the suspects resided in Marry Me.
“The person we know is a Zimbabwean, and this is a fact that we are conveying to you so that you can close the chapter,” Mchunu said.
Following the killings, police activated a 72-hour search for the suspects.
Investigators are still hard at work. Authorities suspect that up to five individuals may have participated in the crimes and continue searching for additional suspects.
Court Appearance and Further Investigations
Both suspects are scheduled to appear at the Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.
They face charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Police will subject the seized firearms to ballistic testing to determine whether they were used in other serious crimes in Gauteng.
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