Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
On the murder of Rebecca and Gugu Mthimkulu
The Ministry of Safety and Security is determined to see that the savage killers of Mrs Rebecca Mthimkulu and her daughter Gugu will pay the price of their actions. Soweto police investigating the case will stop at nothing to find those responsible. We urge members of the public to assist them.
The task of the police in cracking car hijacking rackets is made a hundred times harder by people who collude with deadly criminals. Those who buy stolen vehicles must know that they are buying bloodsoaked goods. Those who are aware of "chop shops" in their neighbourhoods but turn a blind eye must know that they are protecting the crudest of criminals.
It is time for all of us to search our consciences and ask what we can do to fight this plague of hijackings. Police will be offering a reward for information that leads to arrest in the Mthimkulu case. But we hope that anyone with information would come forward and stand on the side of justice irrespective of the reward.
In the Ministry of Safety and Security the killings have only served to strengthen our resolve to back the police service to the hilt in their actions to curb the circulation of illegal firearms. We also want to assure the public that not a single day will be lost in getting our special highway patrol unit up to its full strength of 100 squad cars and putting it on the road.
To Mr Michael Mthimkulu, who was thrown out of the car before the hijackers drove off with his loved ones, I extend my deepest sympathy. Nobody can know the extent of his shock and pain. But many of us are moved and outraged by this crime.
On arrests in relation to the Phola Park conflict
The Phola Park conflict, which reached a pitch with the attack on the Mbotwe home on Monday, has given rise to a number of arrests.
Although no arrests have yet been made in relation to Monday's killings, a woman suspected of involvement in earlier incidents of violence was arrested on December 6.
And another suspect, Eliot Mbindzi, has been charged with murder in relation to an earlier killing. He has been released on bail of R10 000.
Jessie Duarte - Gauteng MEC for Safety and Security
Wednesday, December 13, 1995