A man who allegedly played a pivotal role in the murder of North
West businessman Wandile Bozwana has been arrested – and is singing like a bird,
sources say.
The suspect, whose name is known to City Press, has been on the run
since late last year, shortly after the businessman and his colleague, Mpho
Baloyi, were ambushed and sprayed with bullets.
Bozwana died shortly after arriving at hospital while Baloyi
sustained serious injuries.
Three suspects, including a Pretoria nightclub owner, were arrested
and charged with the murder.
City Press has learnt that the suspect was traced to Buyafuthi
hostels in Katlehong. As he was about to leave the hostels, the man – who has
several previous convictions, including for robbery – was cornered and arrested
by a team of police officers from the Hawks, Gauteng police and metro
police.
Two sources close to the investigation told City Press that the
man, whose alleged role in the murder was to coordinate the hitmen and liaise
with the “masterminds”, was already spilling the beans on who are the real
masterminds.
“He has already provided some information to the investigation team
that will guide them to the more people who ordered the hit,” said a highly
placed source.
What has been established is that:
» R100 000 was paid to the
hitmen;
» Politicians and businessmen were
involved;
» There was no-way Bozwana could
escape the hit according the planning; and
» Ten individuals had already been
approached to give statements to the Hawks investigators.
Prior to his death, Bozwana was involved in a bitter spat with the
North West provincial government. The slain businessman had a large property
portfolio in Mahikeng and was outspoken against the provincial administration
led by Premier Supra Mahumapelo, whom he accused of sidelining him and other
businesspeople from doing business with the government.
He was also involved in litigation with Mahumapelo’s
administration, including a case that went to the Constitutional Court three
days before his murder.
The North West government had approached the highest court in a bid
to stop Bozwana from attaching 44 government-owned vehicles and a state bank
account with a balance of R30 million in seeking a payment of more than R40
million owed to him in relation to Brits hospital’s construction.
Mahumapelo was one of those fingered publicly but he denied any
involvement in the murder.
Sources within the Hawks this week revealed that spotlight has
again shifted to North West and Northern Cape provinces where the financers of
the hit are allegedly based.
The Hawks did not rule out the possibility of more arrests.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed the arrest
of the suspect.
He said the man had already appeared in court on Tuesday and would
reappear on June 22 when he would join the other suspects.