DURBAN - A 34-year-old man appeared in the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for the attempted murder of a Crime Intelligence officer last month.
Warrant Officer Bonnie Nxumalo said Siphephelo Zakhele Gumede appeared in court on the charge of attempted murder after he was arrested by the Durban- based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation.
“He was remanded in custody until March 30, 2022,” Nxumalo said.
Nxumalo said it was alleged that on the night of February 16, 2022, an unknown gunman went onto the premises at F section in Umlazi, searching for the victim.
“A Crime Intelligence officer, 50, was allegedly shot and injured by the gunman. He was taken to hospital for medical attention,” Nxumalo said.
She said a case was opened at the Umlazi police station and the docket was sent to the Hawks for investigation.
“The victim was attacked six months after the murder of his son. The investigation to link the accused to the murder is continuing. More arrests are imminent,” Nxumalo added.
Last week, Maqhinga Dube, 28, a suspect in the murder of Sergeant Thamsanqa Mbedu, 47, was remanded in police custody after appearing before the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court.
Dube is accused of being one of the suspects who shot Mbedu 27 times on March 6, 2021.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said Dube will appear in court again on April 22 for a formal bail application.
Mhlongo said Dube was arrested on Saturday by Hawks officers from Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation and officers from Esikhaleni Visible Policing.
Mbedu, who was attached to the Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, was driving along the road in the Iniwe area. It is alleged that he had an argument with the suspects, who had blocked the road near a tavern. Mbedu allegedly switched on the blue light and the suspects fired shots that fatally wounded him.
“A case of murder was reported at Empangeni police station and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks members for intensive investigation. During the investigation, information was received about a suspect and a warrant of arrest was obtained. The suspect was on the run since the date of the incident until he was successfully apprehended by Esikhaleni Visible Policing on Saturday,” Mhlongo said.
A month after Mbedu’s murder, Hawks officers from the Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit had appealed to the public to assist them in locating Dube, who was allegedly involved in the murder.
At the time of his death, said police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili, Mbedu was in an unmarked state vehicle, a white Toyota Hilux double cab, and was alone. He was accosted by an unknown person who came from behind the police van and then fatally shot Mbedu after an altercation. Mbedu died at the scene.
At the time it was also reported that Mbedu’s firearm was not found at the scene.
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