THE Hawks this week arrested two police officers and charged them with hiring gunmen to kill their boss.
Warrant Officer Phumzile Ngqayimbana, 41, and Constable Noxolo Matya, 37, appeared in the Elliotdale Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the murder of the town’s station commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Nomalizo Dukumbane, who was gunned down on her doorstep on December 17.
The two officers, a couple who are both stationed at the Elliotdale police station, were arrested earlier this week and face charges of murder and conspiring to commit murder.
The arrests come just days after the elite crime-fighting unit apprehended the alleged gunmen. Sipho Simon Makhabeni, 46, and Siyamcela Ntshitshi, 33, were arrested in Qumbu on Sunday and appeared in the Elliotdale Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
They were held in custody until their next appearance next week.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills yesterday said the two officers were arrested in Mthatha on Tuesday.
The small Elliotdale court filled up way past capacity hours before the police officers were due to appear before Magistrate Simthembile Ndlela yesterday, and many people spilled out the door of the courtroom.
The two accused sat quietly on one of the benches inside the courtroom amid heavy police guard. Matya, who did not have a lawyer, requested legal assistance from the state.
The case was postponed to January 7 for a formal bail application and to allow Matya’s application for legal representation.
Magistrate Ndlela ruled that due to the seriousness of the crime the state could not release the two and said they would be remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Jones Mbambala yesterday congratulated detectives for making a breakthrough in the case, saying he hoped the arrests would help console the family and colleagues of Dukumbane.
After more than 30 years’ experience in the police force, Dukumbane, 53, was gunned downed outside her home in Elliotdale after returning from work after 7pm.
She died instantly.
Dukumbane, a mother of one child, assumed her position as station commissioner in 2009. She is the third Eastern Cape police officer to be killed in recent weeks.
Her distraught family members, including aunts, sisters, nieces, nephews and her 32-year-old son Luyanda Dukumbane also attended court proceedings yesterday.
Family said they had been left “dumbfounded and numb” by the implication of police officers, especially someone they considered a family friend.
“She used to call him Sbali and he was a regular visitor in our home,” the victim’s sister, Linda Dukumbane, said.
Her aunt, Elizabeth April, 73, said she was traumatised. “My spirit has died. I am damaged inside.”
Dukumbane’s emotional son, Luyanda, said he wanted justice for his mother’s murder. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Two officers appear in court for cop killing
Warrant Officer Phumzile Ngqayimbana, 41, and Constable Noxolo Matya, 37, appeared in the Elliotdale Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the murder of the town’s station commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Nomalizo Dukumbane, who was gunned down on her doorstep on December 17.
The two officers, a couple who are both stationed at the Elliotdale police station, were arrested earlier this week and face charges of murder and conspiring to commit murder.
The arrests come just days after the elite crime-fighting unit apprehended the alleged gunmen. Sipho Simon Makhabeni, 46, and Siyamcela Ntshitshi, 33, were arrested in Qumbu on Sunday and appeared in the Elliotdale Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
They were held in custody until their next appearance next week.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills yesterday said the two officers were arrested in Mthatha on Tuesday.
The small Elliotdale court filled up way past capacity hours before the police officers were due to appear before Magistrate Simthembile Ndlela yesterday, and many people spilled out the door of the courtroom.
The two accused sat quietly on one of the benches inside the courtroom amid heavy police guard. Matya, who did not have a lawyer, requested legal assistance from the state.
The case was postponed to January 7 for a formal bail application and to allow Matya’s application for legal representation.
Magistrate Ndlela ruled that due to the seriousness of the crime the state could not release the two and said they would be remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Jones Mbambala yesterday congratulated detectives for making a breakthrough in the case, saying he hoped the arrests would help console the family and colleagues of Dukumbane.
After more than 30 years’ experience in the police force, Dukumbane, 53, was gunned downed outside her home in Elliotdale after returning from work after 7pm.
She died instantly.
Dukumbane, a mother of one child, assumed her position as station commissioner in 2009. She is the third Eastern Cape police officer to be killed in recent weeks.
Her distraught family members, including aunts, sisters, nieces, nephews and her 32-year-old son Luyanda Dukumbane also attended court proceedings yesterday.
Family said they had been left “dumbfounded and numb” by the implication of police officers, especially someone they considered a family friend.
“She used to call him Sbali and he was a regular visitor in our home,” the victim’s sister, Linda Dukumbane, said.
Her aunt, Elizabeth April, 73, said she was traumatised. “My spirit has died. I am damaged inside.”
Dukumbane’s emotional son, Luyanda, said he wanted justice for his mother’s murder. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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