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Mbombela - The Hawks have confirmed that one of three suspected killers of rhino poaching investigator Constable Joseph Baloyi has been arrested.
On Friday, Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said the man, who cannot be named until he has appeared in court, was arrested on Thursday evening.
"I'm not able to say much now because the investigation is at a sensitive stage. But what I can tell you is that there has been a breakthrough as we have arrested one man who we believe was one of the three men who killed Officer Baloyi," said Mulaudzi.
The man who was arrested in a joint operation involving the police and the Hawks, is believed to have been working with the main suspect in the murder, Mthobisi Lennox Ngwenyama, 33.
Ngwenyama escaped from police custody at the Nelspruit Regional Court on May 13. He also faces one count of carjacking and two of house robbery.
"Officer Baloyi was also investigating the suspect in a rhino poaching case. He is our main suspect and is still on the run," said Mulaudzi.
Baloyi, who was attached to the Kabokweni police station, was gunned down by three men while entering his home in Tekatakho village near Kabokweni outside White River on Wednesday evening. He was returning from work.
Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe said 10 bullets were used in Baloyi's murder.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of police vehicles belonging to station commanders from all over Mpumalanga were spotted at the Hawks offices in Mbombela, where officers and detectives were reportedly being briefed on Baloyi's murder case.
Provincial police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala said he was not aware of the meeting involving the station commanders.
