ADDO – A 20-year-old man was arrested by SAPS for murder and robbery within fifteen hours, following two robbery incidents in quick succession in Addo yesterday.
According to SAPS spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy, the suspect was also charged for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
“On 5 February 2026 at about 16:35, police were summoned to an incident of robbery in front of a spaza shop in Sunlands, Addo,” he said.
McCarthy added that two men, one armed with a firearm, and the other with a golf stick allegedly robbed a 31-year-old man of his cellphone and an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene on foot.
“It is believed that the two armed suspects proceeded to attack two other people (brothers) less than a kilometre from the first scene. It is said that the two suspects demanded cellphones from the victims aged 16 and 20, and a scuffle broke out.”
He added further that the suspect, who was armed with a firearm, opened fire, wounding a 16-year-old victim. “The suspects managed to steal one cellphone before fleeing the scene. The injured victim was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The second victim escaped unscathed.”
A Crime Intelligence and local detective team was assembled. “Immediately, a team followed up some leads, and managed to trace and locate one of the suspects hiding in a friend’s home this morning (06/02), in the Ezinyoka area, Addo,” McCarthy said. “Police also seized an unlicensed firearm without ammunition.”
He added that a preliminary investigation has revealed that the seized firearm was stolen two days ago, during a housebreaking and theft incident in Addo. “The second suspect is still at large, and the police are hot on his heels.”
The South African Police Service (SAPS), Acting Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Brigadier Asogran Naidoo applauded the swift response of members involved that led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of a firearm.
McCarthy concluded, “The 20-year-old suspect is due to appear before the Kirkwood Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances (two counts), housebreaking and theft, and an additional charge for contravening the Firearms Control Act.”
