In a significant development, the police have apprehended six individuals linked to the tragic demise of Kaizer Chiefs footballer Luke Fleurs. The athlete was fatally wounded in a hijacking incident in Roodepoort and later passed away from his injuries at the hospital. Colonel Mavela Masondo, the spokesperson for the Gauteng police, reported that a dedicated team worked tirelessly to locate and detain the suspects in Slovoville, Soweto. The vehicle involved, found dismantled, was recovered earlier this week.
Authorities suspect these individuals are part of a larger network engaged in vehicle hijackings across Gauteng. During the hijacking, Fleurs was intercepted by two armed assailants while in his red VW Golf 8 GTI at a petrol station on 14th Avenue. After being threatened with a firearm, Fleurs was forcibly removed from his car and shot in the upper body. The perpetrators then fled in his vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing, with efforts to identify additional suspects. The apprehended individuals are scheduled for a court appearance at the Roodepoort Magistrates Court on the upcoming Friday, 12 April 2024.
In a broader context, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has disclosed alarming statistics, indicating a total of 5,973 carjackings between October and December 2023. This figure translates to an average of 66 vehicles stolen each day, marking a 6.5% increase compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. Notably, Gauteng, the Western Cape, and North West provinces have seen a significant 10% surge in such incidents.