Six arrested in Fleurs murder
JOHANNESBURG – Six suspects were arrested yesterday in connection with the killing of South African footballer Luke Fleurs, who was shot when his car was hijacked in Johannesburg last week, police have confirmed.
The 24-year-old former junior international, who played for one of the country’s most popular clubs, Kaizer Chiefs, was shot in the chest at a petrol station last Wednesday and the assailants drove off in his vehicle.
Police said six suspects were arrested in Soweto in the early hours of yesterday morning. Fleurs’ vehicle was recovered on Monday.
“Police believe that the suspects are part of a syndicate that is responsible for car hijacking in Gauteng, and the search for more suspects is continuing,” Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni said in a SAPS statement.
Charged
The arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court tomorrow, charged with murder and hijacking.
Fleurs had been waiting to be served by a petrol attendant when he was confronted by two armed men who shot him in the chest. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Centre back Fleurs played every minute for South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, and that same year, was named in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, though he did not play a match.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture,
Zizi Kodwa, said he was
‘saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime’.
Spokesperson
Lt-Col Mavela
Masondo said the six suspects were traced and arrested in Slovoville,
Soweto, in the early hours of yesterday.