The South African Police Provincial Investigation Team (SAPS) in the Free State has arrested two long-wanted suspects during separate operations conducted over the past 48 hours as part of Operation Shanela II.
In a statement, Free State SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli said the arrests represent significant progress in bringing long-standing fugitives to justice.
“On July 28, at approximately 12:40 p.m., members of the provincial tracking team successfully executed three outstanding arrest warrants in Bloemfontein. The suspect, 45-year-old Tshepiso Letoane, was circulated as a wanted person in connection with multiple serious charges spanning several years: 2016 – attempted murder; 2018 – fraud and forgery; 2024 – illegal possession of drugs. After careful, intelligence-based tracking, team members located and arrested Letoane behind the Bloemfontein Tourism Centre,” Kareli said.
According to Kareli, information gathered by investigators indicated that Letoane had left his previously known addresses in Langenhovenpark and Brandwag, where he had lived with his wife, and was living as a homeless person in the Bloemfontein CBD in an attempt to avoid arrest.
In a separate operation conducted at around 10:30 am on July 29, members of the Provincial Tracking Team in Welcome executed an arrest warrant in connection with a case of business robbery and armed robbery originating from Thubelisha in Thabong.
The suspect, 43-year-old Donald Monyobi, was initially arrested on October 11, 2013 and had provided authorities with a home address in Qibing, Zastron.
“After he subsequently failed to appear in court, an arrest warrant was issued for him. After extensive investigation procedures, the team identified Monyobi’s location at a residential home in Welcome, where he was taken into custody without incident,” Kareli said.
Both suspects are expected to appear before their respective magistrates’ courts soon.
TimesLIVE
Modiegi Mashamaite
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