By Kopano Dibakwane
The hot pursuit of a male suspect, Blessing Fakude(41), came to an end after he handed himself over to the authorities in connection with the murder of a 44 year-old off-duty police officer, identified as Captain Sibusiso Mthombothi
(44), in an incident that reportedly took place at a car wash in Kanyamazane on Saturday 13 January 2024.
According to the spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, two other suspects, Given Sishi(38) and Bakhona Dlamini(31), were also nabbed after Fakude handed himself over. The two were arrested and charged for the alleged possession of a firearm that is suspected to have been used in the cop’s murder.
“ They(Sishi and Dlamini) appeared before the Kanyamazane Magistrate’s Court on Friday 10 May 2024 and they were remanded in custody. Blessing Fakude appeared at Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm. He was remanded in custody and his case was postponed to Monday 13 May 2024 for bail application,” said Sekgotodi.
She also said that another co-accused in the case, 35 year-old Jacky Sibusiso Ntiwane(Maseko), who was reportedly arrested by the Hawks, Nelspruit Crime Intelligence, Provincial Tracking Team and Tactical Response Team, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 20 March 2024, at his home in Kanyamazane.
“ He appeared before the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Friday 22 March 2024, facing charges of murder. The case was postponed to Thursday 4 April 2024 for bail application. During the appearance, he abandoned bail for his own safety. The case was further postponed to 24 July 2024 for further investigation. The accused remains in custody,” said Sekgotodi.
