A 38-year-old man allegedly involved in the murder of a middle-aged man on a farm in Rouxville in the Free State was arrested yesterday afternoon, May 5, by members of Flying Squad and K9 Unit in Gqeberha.
He is detained on charges of the possession of a stolen vehicle, the unlawful possession of a firearm and the illegal possession of ammunition. After appearing in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 8, he will be transferred to the Free State to appear on charges of murder, theft of firearms and theft of a motor vehicle in the Rouxville case.
It is alleged that on Thursday, May 4, at about 14:30, the body of Lance Arthur Da Silva (62) was found on his farm in Rouxville. He sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his head. The victim’s two firearms, a 303 rifle and a baby browning pistol, a white Isuzu bakkie and as other belongings were taken. Police believe that the murder suspect is a homeless person that was staying on the farm with the deceased. He had since disappeared. Cases of murder, theft of firearms and theft of a motor vehicle were opened for investigation.
The stolen bakkie was flagged and all provinces were alerted to be on the lookout for it as well as for the alleged suspect.
Information received was that the vehicle was travelling to Gqeberha.
Police spokesperson, Col. Priscilla Naidu, said that yesterday at approximately 13:00, it was established that the vehicle was in the Walmer area in Gqeberha.
“SAPS Flying Squad and K9 members flooded the area in search of the vehicle. Their persistence paid off when the vehicle was spotted at 15:00, at the corners of 5th Avenue and Union Road. The vehicle was stopped and the alleged suspect arrested. After a thorough search of the vehicle, a rifle was found on the backseat. Further investigations led to the recovery of the stolen property at a house in Airport Valley. One suspect (45) was arrested for the possession of suspected stolen property,” she said.
“Another firearm, a baby browning pistol and ammunition were seized at another house in Airport Valley. A 25-year-old man was arrested on charges of the possession of suspected stolen property, possession of drugs, unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. Various calibres ammunition rounds were also recovered in a vehicle on the premises,” she added.
More stolen property were recovered in Walmer Location. A 35-year-old suspect was arrested on a charge of the possession of suspected stolen property.
All the arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt. Gen. Nomthetheleli Mene, commended the excellent work of the teams involved in the immediate arrests and confiscation of the firearms and stolen property.
“It is clear that our police officers were alert and vigilant to the information supplied of the wanted vehicle. They left no stone unturned in ensuring the successful apprehension of the perpetrators. Criminals must know that they can run from the law, but only for a short time before they are arrested and held accountable for their devious and unlawful actions,” Mene said.
