Rustenburg – North West police on Tuesday said they have released a man detained for questioning in connection with the murder of Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) official Collen Petlele.
“ The man taken for questioning was released without being charged,” said Major Pelonomi Makau.
The 40-year-old man from Lesotho was taken in for questioning after Petlele, 39, the chairman of Amcu’s health and safety desk in the Rustenburg region was gunned down at his parents business premises in Luka near Rustenburg on April 19.
At the time of his arrest, police said they believed that he would assist the police in the investigation and arrest of the suspect.
Two shots were fired at Petlele, he was hit in the back and head. He died at the Impala Mine Hospital.
At his funeral service on Sunday, his uncle Boy Zebulone Ralonya told mourners that he believed his death was a hit.
“Why would the gunman take his shoes and wallet?” he asked.
“To me, this is for the gunman to prove to his handlers that he had done the job.”
Amcu general secretary Jeff Mphahlele said the union was concerned that police were quick to make arrests when members of the rival National Union of Mineworkers were killed but that the opposite happened when there had been attacks on Amcu, even when the gave information to the police.
ANA