Hillcrest SAPS constable rewarded
Police constable sets a good example to his fellow colleagues.
HILLCREST SAPS constable, Siboniso Tembe, was honoured for his work which led to the conviction of three men who murdered Shongweni elderly couple, John (72) and Hester Noble (68), in November 2013.
Eight men were arrested initially after a joint operation between the Shongweni K9 Unit, the Shongweni community and Hillcrest police.
Cst Tembe was the investigating officer who was a member of the team that arrested the eight men who were implicated with the Nobles’ murder.
He was also among the team that recovered the stolen goods and was awarded for his diligent work throughout the court case, which led to conviction and sentencing of three men – Siyabonga Xaba (25), Sicelo Matabane (31), and Khulekani Mathonsi (31).
The three men were sentenced to two life sentences each for murder and 18 years each for house robbery.
The gruesome murder of the elderly couple shocked the Shongweni community.
Four of the men were linked to the murder and robbery of the couple and the other men were charged with receiving property suspected to be stolen after they bought the stolen items. The case against the fourth man was withdrawn in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court.
Stolen goods to the value of more than R60 000 were recovered from the men. John was found with his hands bound behind his back and his mouth was gagged with plastic. He had open wounds on his right arm. His wife was found strangled with an oxygen pipe. The men removed household items before fleeing in the victims’ grey Honda Civic. Police found the couple’s car near their house.
Tembe said he is very honoured to be awarded and recognised for his work.
“This award has encouraged me to work even harder, it is so heart-warming to see that your work is appreciated.”
Tembe, who has been a policeman for seven years, said he had always wanted to be a police officer. “My uncle was a good policeman and I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” he said.
Hillcrest SAPS station commander commended Tembe for his diligent work. “We are very proud of his work and we wish other police officers would look up to him.
“Police officers should know that there are rewards for hard work, in our line of work we really do need dedicated police officers,” he said.
