“I am angry, and I have lost faith in Mpumalanga police,” says Winnie Mabuza, widow of the late Joseph Mabuza, former head of communication for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison.

Joseph died on December 23, 2018, when the motorbike he was riding collided with a bakkie on the N4 near Komatipoort. He had just attended a border patrol at the Lebombo Port of Entry. The bakkie allegedly made a U-turn toward Mozambique before the Nkomazi toll gate.

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The driver fled the scene. Police opened a culpable homicide case and, on the day of Joseph’s funeral, told Lowvelder they had identified the driver. Nearly eight years later, Winnie says she cannot believe how poorly the case has been handled, especially given her husband’s close ties to law enforcement.

In a statement on April 20, she revealed that a police officer had informed her the docket had gone missing. “The development is both alarming and incomprehensible. The driver and vehicle owner were known to police early on. It does not make sense that the case took so long to reach prosecution, only for the docket to disappear before any arrest or accountability,” she said.

The family last received an update years ago, when it was alleged the suspect had fled to Eswatini. “We were awaiting his extradition. The news of the missing docket is shocking,” Winnie said.

She linked her concerns to recent allegations by suspended provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, who claimed senior officers accepted bribes to halt investigations.

“I view the disappearance of the docket in the same light. These allegations raise serious concerns about the integrity of the process. I am therefore appealing directly to the acting Minister of Police, Prof Firoz Cachalia,” she said.

Winnie insists the case was not complex and there was no justification for delays. “Failure to prosecute would be a profound injustice. It would implicate those responsible for the missing docket and reflect a broader failure of the justice system. We call for transparency, accountability and swift action,” she said.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli responded that there had been communication with Winnie and that developments had been shared.

“The suspect has not yet been arrested. An application for extradition has been made to the Director of Public Prosecution after information indicated the suspect is hiding in a neighbouring country. The investigation is ongoing. Please liaise with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), as the docket was presented to them by our detectives,” he said.

Winnie countered that she wants the NPA to provide an update and the suspect to be extradited.

“In 2018, they said they knew where the perpetrator was. In 2022, a new officer took over. I signed all required documents and provided the necessary information. Why have they not released his picture and name, as they do with other wanted suspects? They are failing to do admin. It is unacceptable. I want to see the suspect in court. I will then have closure,” she said.

Monica Nyuswa, spokesperson for the NPA in Mpumalanga, confirmed that the suspect has been identified and the extradition process was initiated.

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“Extradition takes long in nature and involves other departments apart from the NPA. As soon as the accused is arrested the extradition documents will be sent to the requested country,” she said. She added that the suspect cannot be named before he has been arrested and appeared in court.