Weapons found in Dukathole after Reiger Park ambush
Police recovered two rifles in Dukathole, Germiston, on Monday morning that are believed to belong to two members of the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit who were among four people killed in Reiger Park on Friday night. The recovery followed an operation involving Germiston SAPS, the national Anti-Gang Unit and the Hawks.
National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said intelligence gathered during the initial investigation and information obtained from people who were questioned led investigators to the firearms. The weapons are thought to be those of Const Thapelo Tlomatsane and Const Sphiwe Sibeko, who were shot dead while responding to gunfire in Reiger Park.
“The two R5 firearms found belong to the two police members who were shot and killed. They are not the firearms used to kill them and the women.” — Brig Athlenda Mathe
The preliminary account from police is that the officers were part of a crime prevention team conducting patrols when they heard gunshots. They drove towards the source of the sound and were allegedly ambushed. Besides the two officers, two women were also killed in the attack; their identities have not been released in the early stages of the probe.
Investigators said they will establish how the rifles ended up in Dukathole and whether the people who provided information and were questioned during the operation are linked to the killings. The Hawks’ involvement indicates the matter is being treated as a high-priority investigation because it concerns the murder of police members and multiple fatalities.
- Location of recovery: Dukathole, Germiston
- Weapons recovered: Two R5 rifles believed to belong to the slain officers
- Agencies involved: Germiston SAPS, SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, Hawks
The discovery in Dukathole has heightened tensions across affected neighbourhoods. Residents in Reiger Park and nearby communities have in recent months expressed increasing concern about gang violence and targeted attacks on law enforcement. The fact that two members of an anti-gang unit were killed while on patrol will raise fresh questions about operational safety, local intelligence and community-police cooperation.
| Victim | Detail |
|---|---|
| Const Thapelo Tlomatsane | Age 29 (reported) |
| Const Sphiwe Sibeko | Age not disclosed |
| Two women | Names not yet released |
Community leaders and local ward councillors will be watching the next phase of the probe closely. Questions likely to follow include: were the officers properly briefed and supported for that shift; how will police strengthen patrol tactics to prevent similar ambushes; and what steps will be taken to retrieve unaccounted weapons circulating in the area?
Police did not say the recovered rifles were the weapons used in the killings. Ballistics and forensic analysis will be required to determine whether the firearms recovered played a direct role in the murders. The investigative team also needs to confirm chain-of-custody details and trace where the weapons travelled after the ambush.
For ordinary Germiston residents, the immediate consequence is a renewed focus on safety and policing. The involvement of the Hawks and the national Anti-Gang Unit suggests authorities are deploying specialised resources, but it also underlines the seriousness of the incident — two serving officers and two civilians lost their lives.
As the probe continues, investigators have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Police said they will update the public as more verifiable information becomes available.
