Two arrested after stolen SAPS R5 rifle, pistol recovered in Tembisa and Mamelodi

Two Mozambican nationals have been arrested after an intelligence-driven police operation recovered two state-issued firearms stolen from police officers who were shot and killed in Ivory Park, Johannesburg, on Friday night.

The weapons an SAPS R5 rifle and a 9mm pistol were recovered in Tembisa and Mamelodi East during a joint operation involving crime intelligence, the Sedibeng Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Hawks. Police also seized several rounds of ammunition.

SAPS confirmed that the firearms were positively identified as those belonging to Sergeant Rapetsoa and Constable Montja, who were attacked and disarmed before being murdered. The officers were stationed at Ivory Park police station.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the suspects will, for now, face charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as investigations into the killings continue. The search for additional suspects and another missing state-issued 9mm pistol is under way.

National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola commended the team for acting swiftly to trace the firearms and close in on the suspects.