A suspect has been arrested by the Bellville-based Hawks’ National Priority Violent Crime (NPVC) team yesterday on 8 May on allegations of killing a police officer.
The suspect has been identified as 43-year-old Xolisa Lufutha, according to a recently issued SAPS statement.
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The victim, warrant officer Siyakubonga Mphakathi, was on route to the Phillipi railway station while driving his private vehicle, when he was shot and killed by three unknown alleged suspects on 1 June 2022. He died on the scene.
Mphakathi (49) was attached to the SAPS Rapid Rail Unit at the time of his murder, according to a SAPS statement that was issued five days after Mphakathi’s death.
After an investigation was launched by Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI), two suspects were arrested and charged with Mphakathi’s police murder.
The case was referred to the Western Cape division of the High Court and on 27 October 2023, the two accused made their first appeared. The case was struck off the court roll and the accused were released on the same date.
Arrest warrants for the two accused were obtained and were circulated as ‘wanted’ hence the apprehension of Lufutha.
Lufutha is expected to appear at the Athlone Magistrates Court on Thursday, 9 May.
A funeral was held for Mphakati at Mncuncuzo Locality in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape on 18 June 2022, as stated by a SAPS media release issued on the same day.
SAPS Management led by Divisional Commissioner, Lieutenant General Michael Mohlala from Division Visible Policing and Eastern Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Dladla attended his funeral, along with Mphakati’s father.
All the local speakers, his colleagues and Commanders, some of whom grew up with him expressed their pain whilst describing him as ‘a very humble, and loyal man who was committed to his calling’.
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