Luke Fleur of the South African team heads to the pitch before the men's first round Group A match between France and South Africa on the second day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan on July 25, 2021. (Photo credit: Buda Mendes – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Police said on Wednesday they had arrested six suspects in the murder of soccer player Luke Fleurs, who played for popular Johannesburg club Kaizer Chiefs.
The 24-year-old defender was gunned down last week while refueling his car at a petrol station in Johannesburg's northwest suburbs, the latest incident to shock the crime-ridden nation.
“Police have arrested six suspects on suspicion of hijacking and murder,” police spokeswoman Mabela Masondo said.
Authorities said Fleur was waiting to refuel at a gas station in his Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI when he was confronted by two men who ordered him to get out of the car at gunpoint.
When he got out of the car, they shot him and then drove away.
Mr Masondo said the arrest was made in Soweto in the early hours of Wednesday – two days after detectives recovered Mr Fleur's car.
Investigators believe the suspects are part of a criminal organization involved in other car hijackings in Gauteng.
“The search continues for additional suspects,” Masondo said.
South Africa is suffering from a sharp rise in violent crime rates, a key political issue ahead of May's general election, with opposition parties pointing to perceived failures by the government.
According to official statistics, the country recorded almost 84 murders per day between October and December.
Kaizer Chiefs are one of South Africa's top teams and have won 53 trophies, the most in the country.
© Agence France-Presse