The Hawks’ National Priority Violent Crime Investigation (NPVC) joined forces with the Cape Town Flying Squad and K9 Unit to trace and arrest Sive Sigobo for allegations of killing a police officer on Monday, 16 December, reports Cape {town} Etc.
This follows after an arrest warrant for Sigobo (34) was issued.
According to a press statement issued by the SAPS at the time, warrant officer Siyakubonga Mphakathi (49) was fatally shot while on duty and robbed of his pistol by unknown suspects in Philippi in June 2022.
Shortly after, former Police Minister Bheki Cele visited Mphakathi’s family in Mfuleni to convey his condolences:
Police Minister Bheki Cele has condemned the murder of 49-year-old Warrant Officer Siyakubonga Mphakathi while on duty last week in Cape Town https://t.co/xMewy2SCP2 #crime pic.twitter.com/3ablIm8kue
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) June 7, 2022
The two accused, Sive Sigobo and Xolisa Lufutha, were previously charged on this matter and bail was successfully opposed.
However, the case was later remanded to the Cape Town High Court, where it was struck from the court roll because of an administration issue that resulted in the release of both accused.
Warrants of arrest were later obtained for both Sigobo and Lufutha to be rearrested.
Lufutha was re-arrested on 8 May 2024 by the Bellville-based Hawks’ NPVC but has since been released on bail.
Subsequently, the case was remanded to 11 February 2025 for trial in the Khayelitsha Priority Court.
After information was received about the whereabouts of Sigobo, he was arrested and is due to make his appearance at the Athlone Magistrates’ Court today, on Tuesday, 17 December.
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