Hawks re-arrest suspect linked to armed robberies and police station attack

A suspect linked to a series of violent crimes dating back to 2020 has been re-arrested by the Hawks in Mpumalanga. The 42-year-old was apprehended at Kanyamazane on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, around 11pm following a joint operation involving the Hawks' Secunda Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, the provincial tracking team, and the tactical response team in Nelspruit.

The crimes the suspect is accused of include the 2020 attack on Badplaas Police Station, where four firearms, including an R5 rifle, were stolen and no arrests were made. In a separate incident, armed robbers targeted Elukwatini Cash & Carry, resulting in one police officer being shot and injured, and additional cash and items being stolen.

Further investigations led to the identification of five suspects linked to the Badplaas and Elukwatini cases. The case was dropped from the court roll in 2023 pending the finalisation of forensic evidence. However, the suspects were allegedly involved in another serious incident in Elukwatini, where a police official was reportedly kidnapped and his Toyota Gd-6 was stolen.

The suspect was granted bail in 2025 but failed to appear in court, leading to him being classified as a wanted person. The Hawks continued their search until his re-arrest in Kanyamazane on Tuesday night. The suspect is set to appear before the Carolina Regional Court on 23 September 2026.