UK triple murder suspect bought firearm in Gauteng township
· The South African
British fugitive Ndodana Tshuma will first face prosecution in South Africa on a firearm charge before any extradition to the United Kingdom can take place, authorities confirmed following his first court appearance in Johannesburg on Monday.
The 45-year-old appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court after being arrested in Kensington on Friday during a joint operation involving the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Interpol.
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Tshuma is wanted in the UK in connection with the murders of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma (42), and her two daughters, Natalie (15) and Nala (5), whose bodies were discovered at their home in Bedfordshire, east of London, on 6 July.
Firearm charge comes first
Although UK authorities have begun the process of seeking his extradition, Tshuma currently faces a South African charge of possessing an unlicensed firearm.
Police allege the weapon was purchased in a township in Gauteng.
The case was postponed until Wednesday, 22 July to allow Tshuma time to consult with legal representatives and for authorities to verify his immigration status.
Extradition to wait
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said South Africa would conclude its own criminal proceedings before handing Tshuma over to British authorities.
“He will have to serve that time first before he is extradited out of the country back to the UK,” Mathe said.
She added that SAPS is working closely with its international counterparts and expects the formal extradition request from the UK to be finalised soon.
“On the UK side, we have engaged with our colleagues who have been engaging with UK authorities, and they are quite confident that in no time, they will have the full extradition application.”
International manhunt
Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, is alleged to have fled the United Kingdom after the killings, travelling from Heathrow Airport to Johannesburg via Dubai.
His arrest last Friday followed an intensive intelligence-led operation by SAPS, Crime Intelligence, the Organised Crime Investigation Unit and the SAPS Interpol National Central Bureau.
Investigators are continuing to trace his movements after leaving Britain and are also examining how he entered South Africa and whether he received assistance while in the country.
If convicted on the South African firearm charge, Tshuma will be required to serve any sentence imposed before extradition proceedings to the United Kingdom can be completed.