A young man suspected to have terrorised long-suffering residents of Old Naledi remains behind bars on charges of unlawful wounding and robbery.
Apparently attempting to avoid arrest, Ookeditse Makuku, 21, is said to have stabbed a detective during a dramatic night-time police chase in his neighbourhood on New Year’s Day 2025.
Conducting a Christmas holiday operation near Old Naledi Shopping Complex, the cops spotted Makuku, who was wanted in connection with a recent robbery in the area.
Noticing the prowling police officers, the suspect seemingly fled the scene, triggering a 10pm foot chase through the location.
When officers finally cornered him, the situation reportedly turned violent, with Makuku allegedly producing a pair of scissors and stabbing Detective Ranko on the arm before officers managed to restrain him.
He has been remanded behind bars ever since.
On 17 December 2024, a few days before his arrest, the young man is accused of carrying out a terrifying late-night house robbery in Old Naledi.
It is alleged he broke windows to gain entry into a family home before holding a knife to the throat of the complainant’s daughter.
As panic gripped the household, Makuku allegedly forced his way into the complainant’s bedroom and demanded money.
Fearing for his family’s safety, it seems the complainant told the intruder there was no cash in the house and instead handed over a Samsung cellphone.
Both matters are currently being tried by Extension II Magistrates Court, where Makuku is a familiar face and is a suspect in two further pending robbery cases.
He returns to court on 17 June for continuation of trial.
