The National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole has commended the work done by the multidisciplinary team within the 72-hour Activation Plan after they successfully traced and arrested perpetrators that allegedly killed an off-duty police officer in the Eastern Cape, Nompumelelo (Beacon Bay) on Sunday, 19 August 2018.
Immediately after the murder of the 42-year-old Detective Sergeant Simphiwe Sahluko was reported, the 72 hour Activation Plan, which entails the mobilisation of critical resources, including Crime Intelligence, DPCI (Hawks), Forensic Services and General Detectives supported by the a tactical team, was implemented.
Sahluko was apparently involved in an altercation with the suspects before they fatally shot him.
The team worked around the clock and traced the suspects to East London Airport.
The two suspects were arrested at the airport when they were returning a rental vehicle they had used to flee from the scene.
Both suspects, aged 33 will be charged with the murder of Sergeant Sahluko.
The National Commissioner has commended the team for the speedy apprehension of the alleged perpetrators and on the same note sends his sincere condolences on behalf of the SAPS family to the Sahluko family.
“I am encouraged by the continuous successful implementation of the 72 hour Activation Plan and we hope to see that justice prevails and that Sgt Sahluko’s killers are handed down maximum sentences if convicted”, said General Sitole.
“I have also directed that the Sohluko family is receive support from the police during their time of mourning,” added General Sitole.