The matter involving the four men accused of killing Detective Sergeant Simon Mbonani and seriously wounding Sergeant Sthembiso Magubane after a foiled diesel theft attempt at a mine near Middelburg, Mpumalanga, was postponed again.

The four accused, Paulio Ticha Quembo (33), Nelson Mudavahu (33), Lawrence Simango (34), and Denis Spencer Chipenza (35), made their fourth court appearance yesterday.

Three suspects are Mozambican nationals, and Mudavahu is Zimbabwean. They are charged with robbery, attempted murder and murder.

They allegedly shot and killed Mbonani and wounded Magubane while the two officers were responding to a diesel theft complaint on the N4.

According to the initial statement by the Hawks, the two officers followed a yellow diesel tanker along the R555 (Stoffberg Road) outside Middelburg. After the tanker came to a halt and the policemen approached it, the occupants opened fire.

The case was postponed due to one of the accused’s legal representatives withdrawing from the matter and Chipenza requesting a Portuguese interpreter.