A fourth suspect linked to the Reiger Park killings is expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court alongside three accused already facing charges over the deaths of two women and two Gauteng Anti-Gang Unit officers.
The latest suspect, a 26-year-old man, was arrested on Friday in Germiston during an intelligence-driven operation involving the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, the Gauteng Tactical Response Team and the Gauteng Provincial Anti-Gang Unit.
He was initially arrested for alleged possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition after police allegedly found him with a revolver, ammunition and two cellphones.
Hawks national spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said preliminary investigations had linked the man to the killings in Reiger Park on 7 August.
“Upon his arrest, the suspect was allegedly found in possession of a revolver, ammunition and two cellphones,” Mogale said.
She said the investigation was continuing and that additional charges could still be added.
“The investigation is continuing, and the possibility of additional charges cannot be ruled out,” Mogale said.
The new arrest comes as the State prepares to oppose bail for Reagan Cheslin Collis, 23, Jamal Meyer, 24, and Elvino Levert Crafford, 27.
The fourth suspect’s name and his specific role in the alleged crimes were not immediately disclosed.
Four People Killed In Reiger Park
The shooting claimed the lives of Gauteng Anti-Gang Unit officers Constables Thapelo Tlomatsana, 29, and Sphiwe Sibeko, 28, as well as civilians Roleen Lessing and Jayden Margerman.
Police said the officers were conducting crime-prevention patrols when they heard gunshots in the area.
They drove towards the source of the shooting and were allegedly ambushed.
The deaths of the two officers added to the seriousness of an already devastating attack because the pair had been deployed to help tackle gang-related crime in the community.
Lessing and Margerman were civilians who were also caught up in the violence.
Their deaths have left families demanding justice while the court considers whether the accused should be released on bail.
The State alleges that the accused were involved in the killings and has placed several pieces of evidence before the court during the bail proceedings.
That evidence is expected to include CCTV footage, an alleged confession and the recovery of rifles belonging to the two slain officers.
The allegations remain unproven and will have to be tested as the case progresses.
Charges Against The Accused
Collis faces four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and charges related to the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Meyer and Crafford face the same charges under the legal principle of common purpose.
The State alleges that the three men acted together or participated in the crimes, even if their individual roles may have differed.
The prosecution is opposing bail, citing alleged gang links, concerns about possible interference with witnesses and the safety of the public.
The State has argued that releasing the accused could create risks for people who may be called to testify or who have already provided information to investigators.
It has also relied on the seriousness of the charges and the possible danger posed to the community.
The new suspect is expected to join the proceedings as investigators continue determining whether he should face the same charges or additional offences.
Accused Deny Involvement
Collis, through his lawyer Samkele Kuzani, denies the charges and says he was at home when the shooting took place.
He has also alleged that police tortured him into making a confession.
That allegation has not been established in court and remains part of the defence version.
Meyer said he was at home when the shooting happened and only went to the scene afterwards.
Crafford has similarly said he was at home at the time of the attack.
The accused have told the court that they can each afford R2,000 bail.
The State’s opposition means the court will have to consider whether the accused should remain in custody while the investigation and prosecution continue.
The bail proceedings are not a trial, and the court is not being asked at this stage to decide whether the accused are guilty.
It must consider issues such as the risk of absconding, possible interference with witnesses, the safety of the public and the interests of justice.
The court will also have to assess the information placed before it by both the State and the defence.
CCTV Evidence Expected In Court
The bail hearing is expected to continue on Tuesday, with CCTV footage likely to be played in court.
The footage could become an important part of the State’s case because it may assist investigators in establishing the movements of people before, during and after the shooting.
However, the significance of any recording will depend on its quality, the angle from which it was captured, the time displayed and whether the people shown can be identified reliably.
CCTV footage may provide information about movements, but it does not necessarily explain what people knew or intended.
The court will consider the footage together with the other evidence, including witness statements, firearm recoveries and the alleged confession.
The defence is expected to challenge the State’s version and argue that the evidence does not connect the accused to the killings in the manner alleged.
The allegation that Collis was tortured into confessing could also become an important issue if the State seeks to rely on the confession.
Whether any statement is admissible and how much weight it should carry would depend on the evidence and the court’s findings.
Families Call For Justice
Margerman’s family has urged the court to approach the matter carefully and not rush the bail proceedings.
Debbie Boards, Margerman’s aunt, spoke outside the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court last month about the impact of the violence on the families and the wider community.
“We are really tired as a community, as families, we are really, really tired of this,” Boards said.
She said the case was important and called on the court to consider the evidence before making decisions.
“We must let the courts do what they have to do,” Boards said.
Her comments reflect the frustration of families who have lost loved ones in violent attacks and are now waiting for the criminal justice process to determine what happened.
The deaths of Tlomatsana and Sibeko have also affected the police officers’ colleagues, who were working in the area as part of efforts to confront gang violence.
For the families of Lessing and Margerman, the proceedings have brought the pain of the shooting back into focus.
They are now watching the bail hearing while investigators continue to build the case.
Investigation Continues
The arrest of the fourth suspect signals that the investigation remains active more than a month after the killings.
The Hawks and police will still have to clarify the alleged involvement of each accused, establish the source and ownership of the firearms and determine whether other people were involved.
Mogale’s warning that more charges could be added indicates that the investigation has not been completed.
The new suspect’s appearance may also provide the court with information about the alleged firearm and ammunition found during his arrest and how investigators say those items connect him to the Reiger Park attack.
Those claims will need to be set out in court and tested through the legal process.
The accused remain entitled to challenge the State’s evidence and to present their own versions of events.
The court will have to balance the seriousness of the charges and the concerns raised by the State with the constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
For the community and the families of those who died, the immediate focus is on the bail decision and the evidence expected to be presented in court.
The CCTV footage could offer prosecutors an opportunity to strengthen their case, while the defence is likely to use the proceedings to challenge the State’s interpretation of the events.
The court appearance of all four suspects marks the latest stage in a case that began with a violent shooting and has now expanded into a complex investigation involving alleged gang links, firearms, disputed confessions and competing accounts of where the accused were when the attack happened.
As the proceedings continue, families are demanding answers, investigators are pursuing further evidence and the court is being asked to determine whether the accused should remain behind bars while the case moves forward.
