The criminal case against a suspected gunrunner is set to resume on 13 November in the Bloemfontein Regional Court following the police’s completion of their investigations. Katiso Raymond Leputla (43) is facing a charge of unlawful possession of firearms.
He was initially released during September 2018 for the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team to complete their investigation regarding firearms confiscated during his arrest in Bloemfontein.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, confirmed that Leputla resurfaced two days after information was circulated.
“After learning that he was being sought, he contacted the investigating officer. He was served with summons on 26 October to appear in court. Leputla was arrested on 8 August 2018 after the police discovered in a white BMW X5 rifles suspected to have been used in an armed robbery,” said Singo.
He said the suspect was driving the car when arrested, shortly after a cash-in-transit heist in Bloemfontein.
The firearms reportedly discovered in the BMW X5 include an R5 rifle, a pistol, and rifle magazines. It was also reported the car was driven without number plates when the police stopped it.
The vehicle in question was positively identified as belonging to William Bulwane, who served in two positions in the Free State government: MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, and MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development. He also served as the ANC deputy chairperson. The politician had responded he had taken the car for repairs at the Leputla-owned Katiso Motors.
