Alleged arsonist who terrorised Joburg’s northern suburbs arrested

The man suspected of being the notorious Johannesburg serial arsonist was arrested in Emmarentia on Tuesday, 11 October, in a multidisciplinary operation. He is wanted for a string of charges including arson, murder and housebreaking.

ALLEGED ARSONIST CAUGHT IN JOHANNESBURG

The South African Police Service (SAPS) launched a tactical operation after receiving a tip-off about the alleged arsonist.

He was spotted while walking in Emmarentia at 18:00 when the authorities pounced. Fidelity Security Services said the tip-off came from a line it set up in April 2022.

READ: ‘13 homes over 12 months’ – alleged arsonist burning houses in Joburg

 Last month, the police released an identikit of the suspect and recently was discovered that he was revisiting some of the houses he torched over the past 24 months.

Fidelity offered a R100 000 reward for any information about the suspect around the same time, which will be honoured if the arsonist is convicted.

“Fires at homes in the Bryanston, Houghton, Dunkeld, Illovo, Hydepark and surrounding areas have all been linked to this alleged arsonist,” said Wahl Bartmann, Fidelity CEO.

The suspect is wanted in connection with 25 counts of arson, residential burglary and one count of murder after an elderly man was assaulted and locked inside his home before it was set on fire. The victim died in the hospital.

READ: Alleged arsonist and murderer WANTED by police

The alleged arsonist is expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 13 October.

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