The arrest of a 30-year-old Zimbabwean man as a suspect in connection with the murder of the late journalist and editor of the now closed North West Publication Taxi Times, Thabo Kgongwana should sent a clear message to criminals that they may run but they cannot hide from the long arm of the law, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Wednesday.

“We hope that the Kgongwana family, his colleagues, those he mentored into the media industry and the broad communities that he served are relieved and will see justice served. This case proves yet again the relentlessness with which investigations are carried out by members of our police detective services whose effort we sometime do not recognise,” said the overjoyed Premier Modise.

Thulani Gumbo faced charges of murder, business robbery and possession of firearm and ammunition when he appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrates Court last week. The suspect who is still in police custody is to appear in court again on 22 November 2013 for legal representation.

According to police, the arrest of Gumbo followed an investigation that lasted over nearly three years after a business robbery at a Mahikeng Hotel on 7 April 2010 during which an undisclosed amount of cash was allegedly taken by about 15 armed robbers.

Kgongwana was allegedly shot as he was leaving the hotel after attending a government function.

North West Police Spokesperson Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said that from the video footage at the hotel, five suspects were identified during investigation some of whom were facing charges of casino robbery in Durban.

According to Ngubane the accused was arrested after DNA tests linked him to the murder and robbery in the Mahikeng hotel.-TDN
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