Gauteng police have arrested six suspects in connection with the hijacking and murder of Kaizer Chiefs soccer player Luke Fleurs.

The 24-year-old was shot and killed on Wednesday 3 April, while waiting for a petrol attendant to assist him at a filling station in Honeydew.

Sitting in his red VW Golf 8 GTI, Fleurs drove into the petrol station in 14th Avenue, corner of Hendrik Potgieter.

He was confronted by two armed males who came driving a white BMW 1 Series. The suspects pointed a firearm at him and took him out of his vehicle, then shot him once in the chest.

One suspect sped off with Fleurs’ car followed by his accomplice.

Sadly, Fleurs was declared dead on arrival at hospital.

Police say they believe that the suspects are part of a syndicate that is responsible for car hijackings in Gauteng, and the search for more suspects is continuing.

The arrests were made after a breakthrough by a specialist team that was appointed by the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni.

The six suspects were traced and arrested in Slovoville, Soweto, in the early hours of Wednesday, 10 April, while the vehicle that was already stripped was recovered on Monday, 08 April.

The team was led by Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Crime Detection Major General Mbuso Khumalo consisting of a Tracking Team, SAPS Provincial Investigation Unit, SAPS National Crime Intelligence, SAPS Drone Unit, Honeydew Detectives Honeydew Crime Intelligence, CAP Special Operations and Fidelity Specialized Services.

The arrested suspects are expected to appear Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 12 April.

In a tribute to him, the Western Cape Government called Fleurs a ”son of Mitchells Plain and Fish Hoek” who excelled in sport from an early age.

He was mostly playing at centre back on the soccer field, signing for Ubuntu Cape Town’s Academy at the tender age of 13, and playing his first match in the First Division at 17.

In 2018, Fleurs signed to Super Sport United – and joined the Kaizer Chiefs in the 2023.

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