9 Arrested in union killings conspiracy

Rustenburg – Three hitmen and six masterminds were arrested on Saturday night at about 23h00, 10 February, with regards to the planned and systematic murder of union leaders.

In a move to bring all the guilty parties to book, police minister Fikile Mbalula announced during a special media briefing on Sunday morning, 11 February at the Rustenburg Police Station, that police had arrested nine suspects simultaneously throughout three provinces in connection with the recent killings of Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) leaders. 

“These crimes were planned by a syndicate,” said minister Mbalula. “That’s why a systematic process was necessary and carried out to make these arrests possible, and to collect all the evidence.” 
Eleven cases of murder and attempted murder was opened between May and October 2017 where union rivalry played a role. 

The accused appeared in the in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 12 February, and the case was postponed to 21 February.

In an interview with the Platinum Weekly newspaper, minister Mbalula said: “The wheels of justice may be slow, but it will keep turning until the guilty parties are all brought to book.”

The minister also wanted to take a moment to praise the unsung heroes of this story, the South African Police Service: “We salute you for this major breakthrough, but the investigation is not yet over.”