Two men suspected of murdering a member of the Springs Police appeared in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on May 13.
Alfred Qwabe (26) and August Khoza (35) remained in custody on Monday in connection with three counts of attempted murder and armed robbery, plus two additional charges of attempted murder on police officers.
The appearance of Qwabe and Khoza in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court followed the death of off-duty Sergeant Serwadime Harry Mokadi (45) on the R42 off-ramp towards the N12 in Delmas on May 7.
On the day, Mokadi, driving his private vehicle, a white Toyota, took the N12 off-ramp toward Johannesburg when four unknown men in a maroon Etios attempted to hijack the officer and his three female passengers.
According to a media statement released by the office of the provincial commissioner in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, concerned citizens witnessed the incident on the off-ramp. They immediately contacted the Delmas Police.
En route to the scene, the Delmas Police spotted the Etios. A chase ensued into Delpark Ext 2 in Delmas. When the suspects realised the police were following them, they opened fire. The officers retaliated.
The suspects’ vehicle collided with a bakkie of a security company.
The four suspects fled in different directions.
The Delmas Police confiscated a police firearm, cellphones, cash and other items of interest, which will be used for investigation purposes. The firearm was reported stolen in Thabazimbi.
The Delmas Police then proceeded to the first scene of their original call, an attempted hijacking.
“The members discovered Mokadi and a woman were shot,” said Manamela in a media statement released on May 8.
One of the female passengers informed the police that Mokadi offered them a lift just before the attack happened.
Mokadi was declared dead on the scene. The wounded woman was taken to hospital. At the time of going to print, her condition was still serious, but stable.
A search for the suspects, with the help of local security companies and members of the Sundra Bulldogs and AfriForum Delmas Valke Neighbourhood Watch, continued until late the same evening, but the four suspects vanished without a trace.
Learning of the sad incident, Manamela sent words of condolences to the family of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured woman, who is a Mozambican citizen.
“The killing of a police officer displays a sign of gross disrespect to the state,” Manamela then said.
Brigadier William Mokonyama, acting provincial head of the Hawks, was grateful for the team instructed by Manamela to work tirelessly and make sure that the suspects are swiftly brought to book for justice to be served on behalf of the victims.
Qwabe was arrested on May 12 by the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation after he allegedly reported a false hijacking at the Daveyton Police Station. He claimed the crime happened in the Delmas area.
The case was transferred to the Delmas Police while the Hawks continued their own investigation.
Upon his arrival at Delmas SAPS, Qwabe was arrested and charged.
Shortly thereafter, Khoza, accompanied by his legal representative, handed himself over to the police.
Khoza is facing charges of attempted hijacking, three counts of attempted murder, and armed robbery of a police service pistol and cash. Both the accused remain in custody.
At the time of our going to print the case against Qwabe and Khoza was postponed to May 16 for a formal bail application.
