SIX men have been taken into police custody in connection with the killing of South African footballer Luke Fleurs, who was playing for Kaizer Chiefs.
The 24-year-old was shot dead in a car-jacking at a petrol station in Johannesburg last week, the BBC reported.
The South African police said in a statement that the six suspects were arrested in Soweto this morning.
The police believe the suspects are part of a carjacking syndicate in the Gauteng province, and they are still actively searching for more suspects.
Officers said they had recovered the late footballer’s car on Monday, with valuable parts already stolen.
According to the authorities, Fleurs was waiting to be attended to at the petrol station when he was approached by unknown gunmen, who ordered him to get out of the vehicle.
The police said one of the suspects then shot him once on the upper body.
Kaizer Chiefs, one of South Africa’s most popular clubs and 12-time top division champions, described his death as ‘tragic’.
Fleurs, a former South Africa U-23 international who featured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021, joined Kaizer Chiefs last year, having previously played for SuperSport United.
South Africa is rife with violent crimes, with famous figures like former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa as well as music superstars Lucky Dube and AKA all murdered by criminals.
Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa said he was “saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime”, with the suspects set to appear in court on Friday.
