After two long years of dedication and intensive investigations, justice has finally prevailed for the family of a murdered man.
On 28 July 2018, Newcastle SAPS responded to a murder scene in Voortrekker Road. A 37-year-old man had been brutally stabbed and robbed of his belongings.
Speaking on the case, Lizzy Arumugam of Newcastle SAPS Corporate Communications explains a case of murder was opened for investigation, and the docket was assigned to Investigating Officer Detective Warrant Officer V Pawunkumar.
Arumugam states, shortly after the murder, the suspect fled the scene. However, the suspect’s (Xolani Mbuzeni Khumalo) freedom was short-lived. She elaborates by saying, “The Investigating Officer brought other Role-players to assist in the case.”
The long hours allocated to this intensive investigation by the members proved fruitful. Khumalo was finally arrested and had his day in court after being on the run for nearly a year.
Recently, the Newcastle Regional Court sentenced Khumalo to twelve years imprisonment for the heinous crime. Colonel JJ Kubheka, the Newcastle Detective Commander commended Detective Warrant Officer V Pawunkumar on his dedication and insightful investigation in securing a conviction.
While Newcastle SAPS celebrates Khumalo’s conviction, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Bheki Ntuli is calling on law enforcement to locate those behind the horrific murder of a traffic officer based in Midway, Estcourt.
According to reports, the traffic officer was on his way home after work on 19 October 2020 when he was ambushed, before being shot execution-style—seeing the traffic officer passing away on the scene. It is speculated an AK47 rifle was used during the attack.
Currently, the motive for the murder is being investigated by a high-level team from the police. The team have launched a massive manhunt, searching relentlessly for the suspects.
MEC Ntuli now calls on the community and potential witnesses to come forward and work with the police, as to ensure the apprehension of the culprits. Furthermore, MEC Ntuli emphasises that the murder of a traffic officer, especially in such a brutal manner, is both painful and unacceptable.
He highlights that this criminal act needs to be confronted immediately, as it is a direct attack on both the state and the rule of law.
As law enforcement now searches for the suspects, only time will tell if justice will prevail for the traffic official and his family.
Be an authentic, patriotic South African and assist the police by contacting them if you know of any criminal activity. The only way we fix this country is together.
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Authors: Quinton Boucher and Calvin Swemmer
Edited: Calvin Swemmer
