/ 7 January 1999

SUSPECT HELD FOR SOWETO AMBUSH

POLICE have arrested a suspect in connection with Monday’s fatal attack on a police van transporting prisoners in Soweto. Spokesperson Captain Sipho Ngubane said on Wednesday a 30-year-old suspect was arrested on Tuesday morning in Emndeni, Soweto. A handgun and a BMW car, believed to have been used in the attack, were seized. The suspect is expected to appear in Soweto’s Protea Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Two policemen, Sergeants Christopher Sithebe (56) and Matina Sinwamadi (49) were killed in the attack. Twenty-one awaiting trial prisoners were set free by the attackers, but 11 have since handed themselves to police.