Two rifles belonging to the South African Police Service (SAPS) were recovered in the KwaDukathole informal settlement in Germiston on 9 August 2026, the service said, following the fatal shooting of two Anti‑Gang Unit members and two civilian women in Reiger Park two days earlier.
Multi‑agency operation traces suspects
A joint media statement released by the SAPS and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) said a person of interest was taken in for questioning as part of a multi‑disciplinary tracing operation. The operation brought together several units to locate suspects allegedly involved in the Reiger Park murders.
- Recovered items: Two SAPS rifles.
- Detention: One person of interest taken in for questioning.
- Dates: Shootings occurred on 7 August 2026; recovery and tracing on 9 August 2026.
The statement identified participating units as the DPCI’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation, PRASA, Gauteng Crime Intelligence Tactical and Special Operations, the Provincial Tracking Team, Tactical Response Team and the Anti‑Gang Unit.
Victims named
The two SAPS members killed were officers attached to the Anti‑Gang Unit, identified by the service as Constables Tlomatsana and Sibeko. Two civilian women who died in the same incident were named by a sister publication as Roleen Lessing, 36, and Jaydin Magerman, 27.
According to reporting, the women were driving a red Volkswagen Polo on their way to a shop when gunmen shot through the vehicle’s windscreen. The SAPS and DPCI statement characterised the tracing operation as seeking suspects allegedly involved in the murders of the two officers and the two women.
Person of interest described as gang‑linked
The individual taken in for questioning was described in the statement as a known gang member who was out on bail and faced several outstanding charges, including alleged involvement in two murders, two attempted murders and possession of an unlicensed firearm. The police did not say whether the detained person was formally arrested on new charges following questioning.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recovered weapons | Two SAPS rifles |
| Operation partners | DPCI Serious Organised Crime, PRASA, Gauteng Crime Intelligence Tactical & Special Operations, Provincial Tracking Team, Tactical Response Team, Anti‑Gang Unit |
| Persons of interest | One detained for questioning; described as gang‑linked and out on bail |
Police response and community impact
The killings prompted an intensified law‑enforcement response, with specialised units mobilised to track suspects and recover firearms. Acting National Head of the SAPS, Lieutenant‑General Sphesihle Nkosi, conveyed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the slain officers, according to the joint statement.
The recovery of service rifles raises immediate operational questions for the SAPS about the provenance of those weapons and whether they were stolen from police armouries or taken from officers. The statement did not specify how the rifles came into civilian hands or whether an internal probe into SAPS arms control will be opened.
The killings have also intensified concerns over gang violence in parts of Gauteng and its spillover effects on public safety. The involvement of the Anti‑Gang Unit in the fatalities underscores the risks faced by specialised policing teams confronting organised crime networks.
Investigations into the Reiger Park incident remain ongoing. The DPCI and SAPS said further operational updates would be provided as tracing and forensic work continued.
Members of the public with information relevant to the investigation are encouraged to contact their nearest police station or use official SAPS crime‑reporting channels.
