Hawks trace political killing links in family arrest
Twelve members of a KZN family have been arrested - including two members linked to the assassination of ANC candidate councillor Khanyisile Ngobese-Sibisi.
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Durban - The Hawks believe they have made a breakthrough after they took in 12 members of a well-known Ezakheni, Ladysmith, family for questioning in connection with a number of crimes - including an apparent political assassination.
The 12 were brought in on Sunday, the Hawks said.
Two of the 12 have been linked to the assassination of ANC Ward 20 candidate councillor, Khanyisile “Malumekazi” Ngobese-Sibisi, last month.
The former primary school teacher’s Mercedes-Benz was peppered with bullets while she was on her way to a Mandela Day programme in her ward in Acaciaville.
An assault rifle was used in the attack.
She was the only one hit, she died on arrival at Larvena Hospital.
Hawks provincial spokesman, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo, said two of the 12 were allegedly linked to a murder in Weenen in January.
“This is a breakthrough for the Hawks and the Task Force members to various cases, including murder and possession of unlicensed firearms in Ezakheni township, Ladysmith. The Hawks members have been roped in to lead the investigations after a spate of political and taxi-violence-related killings in the province.
“On Sunday, an intelligence-driven operation was conducted in the area where five firearms and more than 120 assorted live rounds of ammunition were recovered,” Mhlongo said.
The firearms included one R-1 rifle, one R-5 rifle, a shotgun and two 9mm pistols.
The firearms would be sent for ballistic testing to ascertain if they were used in other crimes in the country.
“Four of the arrested suspects, aged between 24 and 50, are believed to be involved in two separate murders.
In one incident, on July 18, Ngobese-Sibisi, an ANC ward councillor, was fatally shot in Ladysmith.
“One of the recovered firearms is suspected to have been used in the killing. On January 23, a taxi owner, Muhlawumbeni Zungu, and four other passengers were shot at by unknown suspects.
“Zungu died on the way to hospital and other victims were taken to hospital for medical attention,” he said.
The four have been charged for possession of unlicensed firearms.
Once the ballistic results are available, they may be further charged with murder.
“The four were scheduled to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court yesterday [Monday]. More arrests are imminent,” Mhlongo said.
He said the national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant-General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, was in the province during the operation and subsequent arrests.
A source said the Hawks were still interrogating the remaining family members.
“This is serious. The investigation is at a sensitive stage, hence the remaining family members being held for further interrogation. These people are covering up for someone and we are probing who the main actor or actors are in this crime,” the source said.
Ntlemeza applauded his men on Monday “for good work” for the breakthrough.
“We would also like to thank community members for providing valuable information to us,” he said.
“Hawks members vow to deal with all the hired hit men around the country and there is no room for killers in our society,” he said.
Ngobese-Sibisi’s sister, Bonisiwe, said the progress made by the Hawks was welcomed by the family.
“They have not contacted us yet, but it is a relief to know that the Hawks have covered so much ground already and we hope that the suspects will be positively linked to the crime by the ballistic test results,” she said.
Daily News