RUSTENBURG HERALD - SWARTRUGGENS - A multi-disciplinary team consisting of the Swartruggens and Bojanala Sub-District 2 Detectives Task Team, Rustenburg Crime Intelligence, Rustenburg Public Order Police (POP) and Rustenburg Tactical Response Team (TRT) arrested two suspects, aged 35 and 36, following the linkage to house robbery, theft, murder and kidnapping, which occurred on a small holding outside Swartruggens on Monday, 10 June 2024.
The suspects were arrested in Swartruggens and Rustenburg respectively.
As was reported in Rustenburg Herald last week, four suspects allegedly entered a farm (Papknop) outside Swartruggens very early on Monday morning last week and killed 61-year-old Elizabeth Maseloane, who was alone in the house. Upon arrival, the victim’s husband, Oupa Maseloane (71), was accosted by the suspects who took him to the main house, which they ransacked, loading household items onto two bakkies. They then kidnapped the husband in one of the stolen bakkies and fled from the property.
Consequent to intensive investigations, a 35-year-old man was apprehended on Friday, 14 June, at Swartruggens Magistrates’ Court where he was appearing for housebreaking and theft allegedly committed in April 2024. At the time of the arrest, the suspect was on bail. The second suspect was arrested at his residence in Rustenburg in the early hours of Saturday morning, 15 June, during a Crime Intelligence driven operation. That’s after he failed to account for a suspected stolen vehicle found in his possession. The vehicle belonged to the Swartruggens house robbery victims. Further investigations resulted in the arrest on Friday, 14 June. A 30-year-old female, who is the 35-year-old suspect’s girlfriend, was arrested at her home in Madikwe for possession of suspected stolen property. The suspect was expected to appear before the Swartruggens Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18 June. In another arrest relating to the same matter, a 45-year-old suspect was expected to appear before the Mogwase Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18 June, for possession of suspected stolen goods and unlawful possession of firearms. The suspect, (who is also a pastor) was arrested on Sunday, 16 June, at Mogwase while he was conducting a church service, after being found in possession of two firearms that were also robbed during the commission of the crime. Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway for the remaining suspect/s.
After the attack and kidnapping, Maeloane was hospitilised and since, discharged. He was in Rustenburg on Tuesday, to claim his wife’s remains and to start funeral arrangements. The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked all the units involved for the tireless efforts that led to the arrests.
