Police are appealing to the public to assist in tracking down Lucky Boitumelo Molefe, a man wanted in connection with the murder of 30-year-old engineer, Armard Swart.
Police turn to the public for help tracking down Lucky Molefe
A warrant of arrest has been issued for Molefe, who has been on the run since December 2024.
Swart was an employee of Q Tech Engineering in Vereeniging, Gauteng. He was shot multiple times while seated in his vehicle outside the company premises on the morning of 17 April 2024.
According to police reports, two suspects pulled up in a white Hyundai i20 and opened fire on Swart, killing him instantly.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was not random. Swart had reportedly blown the whistle on massive price inflation in a Transnet tender. He had exposed how his company had sold a small railway spring for R3.20, but it was later resold to Transnet for R152—a markup of over 4500%.
The total tender value had been inflated from a modest R25,000 to more than R1.2 million.
Initial speculation suggested that Swart might have been mistakenly targeted. However, later findings point to a planned assassination aimed at silencing him.
According to police, the hitman was allegedly paid R1 million to carry out the attack.
The murder investigation was handed to the SAPS Head Office Organised Crime Unit, working with Crime Intelligence.
This led to the arrest of four suspects, including Warrant Officer Michael Pule Tau (54), Dany Floyd Mabusela (46), and Musa Kekane (36).
They were apprehended in Bramley, Johannesburg, during a police operation. Law enforcement officials also recovered the white Hyundai i20 used in the attack, which had fake license plates, along with several firearms, including an unlicensed AK-47.
Police say that Molefe, believed to be a key figure in the assassination plot, went into hiding shortly after the other arrests. He has been at large since late 2024.
Authorities are urging Molefe to surrender at the nearest police station. They have also requested that anyone with information on his whereabouts contact the SAPS hotline.
The case involving the other four suspects has been postponed to August 2025, when it will be heard at the Palm Ridge High Court.
All suspects remain in custody.
