Cross border vehicle smugglers arrested for murder of activist

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Three most wanted cross border vehicle smuggling suspects have been arrested for murder of anti-crime activist.

Two of the suspects are also accused of killing a prominent anti-crime activist , Sipho “Juda” Mthethwa who was gunned down outside his home in February this year.

Mthethwa also served as the chairperson of the Umhlabuyalingana society against crime organisation and was at the forefront in the fight against cross-border crime in areas around uMkhanyakude.

Thokozani Dlamini, 36, Sipho Mhlanga, 36, and Xolani Mkhwanazi, 28, were arrested during a take down operation in Empangeni this week. 

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the suspects were found with two unlicensed pistols and several rounds of ammunition.

“The firearms have been taken in for ballistic testing to determine if they have been used in the commission of crimes,” she said. 

According to Mathe, the three have already appeared before various courts in northern KwaZulu-Natal including, Empangeni, Emanguzi and Ngwelezane Magistrate’s Court .

They are facing charges of murder, kidnapping, car hijacking, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as house robbery.

Mathe said the trio is being linked to at least 52 more cases linked to car hijackings in northern KZN. 

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Meanwhile, the national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola said he was confident that the task team deployed to clamp down on cross border vehicle smuggling syndicates in northern KwaZulu-Natal continues to make inroads. 

“We will continue to respond accordingly to ensure we prevent and combat crime in communities like Umkhanyakude. Since the inception of crime combating operations like Operation Shanela we have managed to arrest 99 754 suspects with a bid to ensure safer communities since May 8, 2023”, said General Masemola.