The Hawks together with Arcadia Crime Prevention unit and Tshwane District Crime Intelligence have made another breakthrough in the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane. Two more suspects were arrested yesterday and a murder weapon suspected to have been used during to kill the boy has been recovered. The teams pursued more leads after receiving information on the whereabouts of the two suspects aged 29 and 30.

MURDER WEAPON SEIZED

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said they went to bust the suspects on Monday night in Atteridgeville and Soshanguve, where they effected the arrests and recovered two unlicensed firearms. "One of the firearms is alleged to be the murder weapon used in the murder of Ditebogo Phalane but that will be confirmed once the firearms have been sent for ballistic testing. Both suspects will make their first appearance at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 22 May 2024," Mogale. He said one of the suspects is believed to have been out on bail for alleged hijacking, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm. 

KEPT PROMISE

After announcing the arrest of the first two suspects a day before Ditebogo Junior's funeral, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthomben,i vowed that the police would continue working tirelessly to arrest the rest of the culprits. Mthombeni said they activated various law enforcers to Jukulyn in search of the suspects and the members vowed not to rest until they arrested all of them.

"We have worked tirelessly day and night. For now, we have a breakthrough after thorough investigations led us to specific addresses in Soshanguve where we arrested two suspects in different locations," said Mthombeni at the time.