A joint investigation resulted in 60 detectives conducting search and seizure raids at homes in Durban and Gauteng.
Mandy Wiener | 2 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG – All 20 members of the so-called "Cato Manor police death squad" have been arrested, the Hawks confirmed on Wednesday.
A joint investigation by police, the Hawks and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) resulted in 60 detectives conducting search and seizure raids at homes across Durban and Gauteng.
Two suspects were arrested in Hammanskraal and one on Gauteng’s West Rand.
In 2012, the unit was disbanded after it emerged that officers had been involved in the deaths of several suspects.
The squad was led by Major General Johan Booysen.
He has always maintained that the allegations were part of a smear campaign.
Booysen was not among those arrested on Wednesday.
The Hawks’ McIntosh Polela said, “We have been able to secure all 20 suspects. They will be taken to the Durban central police station and we need to book them in.”
On Tuesday evening, members of the squad heard of their impending arrests and in turn, offered to hand themselves over to police.
Despite this, the Hawks still carried out Wednesday’s raids.
In 2011, the Sunday Times reported the unit had a hand in several assassinations, some of which were in retaliation to the police killings.
(Edited by Clare Matthes)
"We had good successes. In three weeks, we arrested 38 suspects, recovered 34 hijacked cars, five firearms, R200000 in cash, R200000 worth of drugs and killed two suspects," he said. "It is clear someone is looking out for the wrong people's interests."
ReplyDeletePetros said ''Nothing has been disbanded . [Task teams] depend on crime trends and we deploy our members accordingly and where our strategies dictate. ''I am comfortable with the progress made in this investigation and any movement of members is part of a new strategy and change of tactics.'' Police spokesman Colonel Noxolo Kweza said he would respond to questions today. But the team members believe they were "too successful". "We were hurting these thugs. The only way they could stop us was to shut us down. Our success has been our downfall, " said the Pretoria officer.
" Crime Pays in South Africa "If you do not do your work...you are a good cop !