Man caught with slain cop's phone arrested for barbershop murder
Constable Khulani Chabangu, 29, was shot dead during a barbershop robbery in Mpumalanga on 30 May.
A 25-year-old suspect found with a cellphone allegedly taken from the murdered officer has been arrested.
A second suspect remains at large.
A man found in possession of a murdered policeman's phone has been arrested by the Hawks in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, a week after the officer was shot dead during a barbershop robbery in Calcutta, near Bushbuckridge.
Constable Khulani Chabangu, 29, was visiting a barbershop at around 23:00 when two armed men entered the premises and ordered everyone to lie down. Chabangu, who was off duty, was reportedly ordered to undress before suspects made off with his clothes and car keys.
It is alleged they shot and killed him when he followed them outside the barbershop.
The suspects then fled the scene in the officer's vehicle.
Chabangu had been stationed at Volkrust police station.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said the suspect was arrested in Calcutta on Friday afternoon.
Nkosi said he was found in possession of two cellphones.
'It is alleged that one of the cellphones was [stolen] during the murder of the police official,' Nkosi said.
'Further investigation was conducted that led the team to the suspect's friend's house. On seeing the police, the suspect's friend managed to evade arrest and vanished within the residential area. A search was conducted in the house whereby a handgun with [filed off] serial numbers and four live ammunition rounds were found.'
Mpumalanga Hawks head Major General Nico Gerber said his members 'will not rest until all those behind the murder of our fallen hero are brought to book'.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Calcutta Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of murder, business robbery, theft, car theft as well as illegal gun and ammunition possession.
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