Hit-men set to assassinate senior Hawks officer

An alleged plan to assassinate the deputy head of the Hawks and chief of the investigation unit charged with investigating the murders surrounding the recent taxi wars, has been foiled.

Brigadier Simon Madonsela and a team of detectives have been heading the investigation against taxi boss, Elias ‘Sputla’ Mpungose’s involvement in the murder of a taxi boss, Bhekani Dladla in January.

Brigadier Madonsela’s team of detectives are from the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the Taxi Violence Task team.

According to a report, an alleged R1.2-million price-tag had been placed on Brigadier Madonsela’s head.

Provincial Police spokesperson, Major Thulani Zwane said, “a case of conspiracy to commit murder is being investigated by the police. No arrest has been made.”

The fact that no arrests have yet been made was called into question due to allegations that a senior official from within the task team had tipped suspects off.

However, it is believed many of the suspects related to the case have been identified.

“We cannot give any other information as the matter is at a sensitive stage,” continued Major Zwane.

Mr Mpungose handed himself over to Brig, Madonsela’s team earlier this year, and was charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of murder.

Mr Mpungose has been previously accused of the murder of rival taxi boss in 2012, and faced a lifetime incarceration sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2007.

Charges were withdrawn last year during the murder trial, after a key witness disappeared. Furthermore, the 14-year-old rape victim, her grandmother and 13-year-old cousin were gunned down at their home, in 2007, a week before they could take the stand at the Vryheid High Court.

In 2011, the Supreme Court overturned Mr Mponguse’s life-sentence.

He was released on bail for the three charges he currently has levelled against him on April 13 at the Madadeni Regional Court.

On April 12, the son of Madadeni Taxi Association, Zwelinjani Magagula, was murdered in Madadeni in what is believed to have been a case of mistaken identity. The murder has been described as brutal.

Major Zwane was unable to confirm if the cases were linked, due to its sensitivity and redirected questions related to the incarceration and detention of Mr Mponguse to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).