The man, who allegedly killed Sergeant Moshela Mokgobo in Alexandra, handed himself over at the Johannesburg police station on Wednesday.
Sergeant Mokgobo was on duty when he was killed on Tuesday.
National police spokesperson Brenda Muridili said: "It was reported that the sergeant and colleagues were following a suspicious vehicle when the vehicle in question got stuck in traffic on 3rd Street, near Pan African Mall.
"Sergeant Mokgobo and a colleague approached the said vehicle on foot when shots were fired at them by the occupant. The sergeant was shot and he succumbed to his injuries."
Muridili said a 72-Hour activation plan was initiated, which entailed the mobilisation of all the necessary resources needed to investigate the incident.
A 52-year-old man handed himself over to police.
He will appear in court soon on charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery of a firearm and discharging a firearm in a municipal area.