A 19-year-old, wanted in connection with the murder of a man earlier this month, has been arrested after his travel buddy turned out to be a policeman.
"Richards Bay Crime Prevention police officers gathered intelligence about a suspect who was hitch-hiking at Madlankala area in Esikhaleni, as he wanted to escape to his hideout in Nongoma. An operation was immediately put in motion and the suspect was offered a lift by a police officer who was driving an unmarked police vehicle," explained KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
He said the police officer pulled over at a filling station and tactically requested back-up, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
The suspect is wanted for the murder of 21-year-old Khanya Mthembu, who he allegedly stabbed to death in Mzingazi on September 8.
Netshiunda said the suspect and Mthembu got into an argument at a tavern, and when Mthembu left, the suspect followed him and allegedly stabbed him to death near a sports field.
"The suspect is due to appear in the Richards Bay Magistrate's Court on Friday," Netshiunda said.
In separate incidents, three police officers were injured in shoot-outs in the province.
In all the incidents, police were responding to crimes when they were shot at. Investigations in all three cases are under way.
IOL News