Police have urged communities to intensify co‑operation with law enforcement after the fatal shooting of two members of an anti‑gang unit in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni, and the arrest of a suspect now linked to multiple murders.
Senior police and government officials address public at funeral
The call was made during the funeral service for anti‑gang unit officer Siphiwe Sibeko on Saturday in Springs. Sibeko was killed in an attack in Reiger Park earlier this month that also claimed the life of his colleague, Thapelo Tlometsane, according to police statements.
Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane delivered the keynote address and described the killing as "unacceptable", the police said. Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo also attended the service and described the deaths as an assault on the state.
"The killing is unacceptable," said Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane, according to police reporting.
Police confirmed that an alleged gangster, Regan Collis, has been arrested in connection with the attack. Collis is additionally charged with the murders of two women who were shot on the same night the officers were killed, the police said.
Investigations under way, police say suspect had accomplices
SAPS said investigations are progressing and that evidence indicates Collis was not acting alone when the shootings occurred. No further operational details or the identities of additional suspects were released in the police report.
One of the women shot on the day of the attack, Roleen Lessing, was also laid to rest on Saturday, the police said.
- Victims named by police: Siphiwe Sibeko and Thapelo Tlometsane (anti‑gang unit officers), and Roleen Lessing (civilian).
- Location of attack: Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni; funeral held in Springs.
- Accused arrested: Regan Collis, charged with the killings of the two officers and two women.
At the funeral, senior police leadership reiterated long‑standing appeals for community members to assist investigations by providing information and co‑operating with law enforcement. The police framed such co‑operation as essential to tackling organised and gang‑related violence and preventing further attacks on law enforcement personnel.
The police statement did not specify when Collis was arrested, whether he has appeared in court, or the exact charges laid in relation to each death. It also did not disclose whether other arrests have been made in connection with the shootings, beyond the indication that investigators believe there were multiple perpetrators.
Police made no comments in the statement about the wider operational measures being taken to protect members of specialised units or to dismantle the criminal networks implicated. The funeral addresses underscored political and institutional condemnation of the killings and reiterated a pledge to pursue the investigations.
Context and consequences
The deaths of members of an anti‑gang unit in the line of duty highlight the risks faced by specialised police formations that target organised crime and gang structures. Such killings have implications for police morale, operational tactics and community trust. Senior officials’ public appeals for co‑operation aim to draw on local knowledge to accelerate investigative leads and to reassure communities that the state will respond.
Police also signalled a broader prosecutorial push by linking the arrested suspect to other murders committed on the same night. If investigators can establish collusion or a coordinated plan involving multiple perpetrators, it could lead to additional charges and more extensive criminal inquiries.
For now, investigators have said only that inquiries are advancing and that they believe Collis did not act alone. Further court appearances, charge sheets and formal police briefs are expected to clarify the precise sequence of events and the extent of any broader criminal network implicated in the killings.
Families of the victims and colleagues of the slain officers attended memorial events over the weekend. The police have asked anybody with information about the attacks to come forward through official channels to assist ongoing enquiries.
