Publications
- A man accused of murdering a Mthatha police officer has appeared in court.
- Sergeant Mphakameli Mazinywana was shot dead at his home in June.
- The accused was one of three arrested in the case, with more arrests expected.
A man accused of murdering a Mthatha police officer has made a brief appearance in court. He was the third person arrested in connection with the murder.
Khuselo Mkhangeli appeared briefly in the Mthatha Magistrate's Court on Monday in connection with the murder and robbery of the police officer.
Sergeant Mphakameli Mazinywana, 49, who was attached to the Mthatha central detective unit, was shot dead at his house in the Old Payne location near Mthatha on 18 June 2021. His assailants made off with his service pistol.
At the time, police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said Mazinywana had been at home with his wife when the perpetrators kicked the door open and demanded the officer's firearm. He was shot in the upper body before his assailants took his service firearm and escaped.
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During an operation in Motherwell on 10 July 2021, two pistols – including what is believed to have been the murder weapon – were seized. Two people, Ayanda Tutu, 38, and Sandile Ntsikithi, 25, were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms, said Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase.
"Further investigations linked Mkhangeli to the case. He was traced and arrested on 18 January 2022, [and after that… he was arrested for another robbery case in Thabazimbi, Limpopo," said Nkwalase.
The case against Mkhangeli was postponed to Thursday for a bail application. He is expected to appear along with the two other suspects.
"More arrests are imminent as one of the suspects remains at large as the investigation continues," added Nkwalase.
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