Pretoria police made a major breakthrough in the investigation into the tragic murder of Ditebogo Phalane Junior.
Suspects in Ditebogo Phalane murder arrested
SAPS confirmed that two suspects connected to the murder of the five-year-old were apprehended on Thursday morning, following intensive investigations into the incident that shocked the community of Soshanguve.
Gauteng provincial commissioner Major General Tommy Mthombeni confirmed one of the suspects was found on the same street where the murder took place days earlier.
With regards to the suspects’ nationalities, the Gauteng top cop revealed that information trickling in from lead investigators suggests at least one of the alleged killers is South African.
Police have hinted at more suspects possibly at large, all of whom may be foreign nationals.
The two suspects face charges of possessing illegal firearms, hijacking and murder.
What happened to Ditebogo Phalane?
Phalane Junior was killed on Friday, 10 May 2024, during a hijacking in Block UU, Soshanguve.
The incident occurred when a group of men ambushed Ditebogo and his father.
The attackers forcibly took their vehicle and, in the process, fatally injured the young boy.
This heinous crime has left the family and the community in mourning, with many expressing outrage and demanding swift justice.
The family’s spokesperson, Gift Makoti, shared that the community, government officials, and various political parties have shown overwhelming support during this difficult time.
The Phalane family has received visits from various community leaders and government representatives.
Among those who visited were ActionSA’s Gauteng premier candidate Funzi Ngobeni, who himself was a recent victim of hijacking and kidnapping, and local ANC and EFF leaders.