Police have arrested a Zimbabwean-born businessman, wanted in the UK over the murders of his family, in Johannesburg.

The 45-year-old Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma was nabbed in the suburb of Kensington yesterday, 10 July, following an intensive operation involving the SAPS Interpol National Central Bureau, Crime Intelligence and the Organised Crime Investigation Unit.

Tshuma is wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom in connection with the murder of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma (42), and their two daughters, Natalie (15) and Nala (5), whose bodies were discovered at their home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire.

The murders have been extensively reported on in the UK, with reports earlier indicating that authorities suspected Tshuma may have fled to Zimbabwe via Heathrow, two days before the bodies of his family were discovered.

In a statement, police said through swift operational coordination and intelligence-led policing, SAPS members successfully traced and arrested the fugitive yesterday.

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has commended all members involved in the operation for their swift and coordinated response.

“This arrest demonstrates that South Africa is not a safe haven for fugitives. Anyone who believes they can evade justice by fleeing to our country should know that SAPS will work tirelessly with international law enforcement partners to trace, locate and arrest them.”

The suspect will appear in court on Monday.

The senior investigating officer from Bedfordshire police, Detective Inspector Leer Martin, thanked everyone involved in tracking and apprehending Tshuma.

“Our investigation remains ongoing and we’ll be working closely with our counterparts in South Africa, as well as the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service, to bring him back to this country.”