Tebogo Msimanga |
Four foreign Nationals, Paulino Ticha Quembo(33), Nelson Mudavanhu(34) ,Lawrence Simango (34) appeared before the Middelburg Regional Court while Dennis Spencer Chipenza(35) attended in absentia on Thursday , 6 April 2023 after they were arrested during a tracing operation conducted by the Hawks Middelburg on Wednesday, 5 April 2023. They were charged with the murder of a police officer.
Mpumalanga Hawks Spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said it is alleged that during the night of the Monday, 3rd April, the accused, suspected to be dealing with the theft of diesel entered into one of the mines and pointed the security on duty with firearms and robbed them a full diesel tanker and fled the scene.
“It is further alleged that on the same day, a member from Crime Intelligence Middleburg received a tip-off from an informer regarding the robbery of diesel at a mine near N4. The member contacted his colleague from Middleburg Detective Services, and they drove together in a state vehicle, patrolling the Stofberg road as directed by the source”.
Along the road, they came across a yellow diesel bowser matching the description and made a U-turn, and stopped it. “It is further alleged that three male persons alighted from the truck and started shooting at the officers. In the process, one member Sgt Simon Mbonani (43) was shot and later succumbed to his injuries while the other, Sgt Raphael Sthembiso Magubane(43) sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for medical treatment”.
The case is postponed to 13 April 2023 for further investigation and legal representatives.
