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- A man was killed during a shootout with police after they cornered suspects in the murder of Limpopo crime intelligence officer Lieutenant Colonel Tshitereke Freddie Masuvhelele.
- Police said the five men were found hiding in Kwa-Mhlanga, Mpumalanga.
- Masuvhele was killed last month during a robbery at his family business premises in Malonga village in Venda.
Four men have been arrested and a fifth shot dead as police made inroads into the murder of crime intelligence officer Lieutenant Colonel Tshitereke Freddie Masuvhelele in Venda last month.
Police said the five suspects were traced to Mpumalanga at a hideout and, after being cornered, they had started firing at officers who returned fire, killing one of them.
The men had allegedly been terrorising communities and businesses in the Vhembe and Mopani districts, committing murder, theft, rape, business robberies and hijackings.
READ | Limpopo crime intelligence cop killed during robbery at family business
A day before the murder of Masuvhelele, the assailants allegedly hijacked a couple in Mashamba village, shot the man, handcuffed the woman, and drove around with the man in the boot, said Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.
"On the same day, they met another couple and also hijacked them, leaving behind the first victims. The man later succumbed to his injuries. The suspects continued with their hijacking and robbery spree and, in the process, they reportedly shot and injured a female traffic officer. The following day, on 8 October at 19:00, that is when they shot and killed Lieutenant Colonel Masuvhelele."
Masuvhelele, 58, was at the back of the Masuvhelele Enterprise premises in Malonga village, feeding cattle, when two armed men entered and held up his two sons, who were about to close the shop. When he went in to investigate, Masuvhelele was shot multiple times by one of the gang who was waiting outside.
The attackers took cash and a cellphone.
The four men, aged between 24 and 31, were arrested in Kwa-Mhlanga, Mpumalanga, on Friday. The deceased suspect was aged 31.
Police confiscated three pistols, ammunition, police handcuffs, pepper sprays, cellphones and car keys during the arrests. One of the firearms was stolen from a police officer in Giyani earlier this year.
The men will appear in court soon on various charges of murder, possession of unlicenced firearms, possession of suspected stolen goods, hijacking, and robbery.
