Mabopane officer murder accused due in court
A firearm and a stolen television set were seized after the 41-year-old off-duty policeman was accosted in his home, shot dead in November 2022.
Four suspects in the robbery and murder of a 41-year-old off-duty policeman will appear in court on Thursday.
The men appeared in the Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve magistrate’s courts recently where their case was postponed to March 16.
The men had initially made their first appearance on November 11 at the Ga-Rankuwa magistrate’s court.
The foreign nationals are believed to be involved in the killing of the off-duty officer, Sergeant Tumelo Patrick Losaba (41) in his Mabopane home just before midnight on November 6, 2022.
The sergeant was attached to the Rietgat rapid rail police.
Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya during his third quarter of 2022/2023 financial year briefing said: “The suspects who also committed house robbery, exchanged gunfire with the member and one suspect, Chris Mazeti, a Zimbabwean national and the member died.
“A manhunt was launched which resulted in four suspects being arrested around Winterveldt and Mabopane areas.”
He said the suspects were Bongani Mabena (26) alias Rara, Joseph Makhubele (29) alias Mjozi, Paul Muchesa (32) and Alpheus Ggwamanda (31).
Lebeya said a firearm and a stolen television set were seized after the arrests.
Lebeya added the suspects comprised three Zimbabwean nationals and one South African.
He said the men had appeared in Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve magistrate’s courts on charges of murder, house robbery, possession of stolen property and an unlicensed firearm.
The four were arrested on November 6.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe, locals had assisted the police in apprehending one of the suspects.
She said an officer was visiting Losaba in his home in Mabopane around midnight, when three assailants accosted them.
According to Mathe, the off-duty officers were robbed of their belongings and “during the ordeal, Losaba was fatally wounded”.
Mathe said one assailant fled in a grey Audi A3, another on foot while brave community members chased down and apprehended the third, a 32-year-old.
Acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili commended the community of Mabopane for taking a unified stance against crime, violence and disregard for the law.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola also commended the police in Gauteng saying the swift arrest of the suspects should serve as a deterrent to those who continued to undermine the authority of the state.
“Well done to the teams involved led by Gauteng commissioner, Lt-Gen Elias Mawela. This should serve as a deterrent and stern warning to those who continue to undermine the authority of the state by attacking and killing police officers on and off duty,” said Masemola.
“We are intensifying operations and heightening police visibility throughout the country to ensure we squeeze the space for these criminals.”
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