Four members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) are currently under investigation following the tragic shooting of a Zimbabwean couple outside the Randburg Magistrates Court last Wednesday.
The couple, Sicelubuhle Moyo and William Dubethe, were on their way to testify against suspects charged with aggravated assault when they were fatally shot.
Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the spokesperson for the SAPS, confirmed that a murder case is now being investigated in relation to the incident. The victims were shot as they approached the court building and were declared dead at the scene.
According to reports from TimesLive, Moyo and her husband were confronted by an assailant who emerged from a Mercedes-Benz and opened fire on them. Authorities are currently conducting a manhunt for the shooter and any possible accomplices.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, but it is believed to be connected to Moyo’s involvement in a 2018 police brutality case. Moyo had filed a complaint against four male police officers—Moleke Makgatho, Katudi Masemane, Sylvester Chuene, and Mariri Mashupe—who she accused of torturing her. The officers were arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in 2020, two years after Moyo initially reported the incident.
Despite the tragic murder of the couple, the case against the four police officers is reported to have continued in court. Last week, Moyo and her husband were scheduled to be cross-examined after providing their testimony. The State called upon Lt-Col Andile Mankayi, the investigating officer in the shooting, to support an urgent application during the court proceedings. The application requested the officers from the Midrand police station to surrender their cellphones and weapons, as well as undergo gunpowder residue tests on their bodies and firearms. The matter was adjourned to allow the defense lawyers to consult with their clients.
The SAPS is fully cooperating with the investigation into this double murder case, and efforts are underway to bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of witnesses and the need for enhanced security measures within the justice system.
