Memorial service for slain Ngcobo police

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

The memorial service for the slain Ngcobo police officers will be held today.

The memorial service, which will be attended by various community and government leaders, will be held at the Ngcobo Methodist Church.

The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Francois Beukman, will attend the memorial service as well as several provincial leaders in government.

The five policemen from Ngcobo police station, in the Eastern Cape, were killed on Wednesday night by gunmen who robbed the police station of 10 firearms and fled the scene with a police vehicle they hijacked.

The five policeman have been identified as Warrant Officer Zuko Mbini, 45, Constable Zuku Ntsheku, 38, Constable Nkosiphendule Pongco, 32, Constable Sibongiseni Sodlana, 32, and Constable Kuhle Metete, 27.

A retired soldier, 58-year-old Freddy Mpandeni, was also shot dead when the suspects fled the station.

The massacre sparked outrage across the country and a multi-disciplinary task team was assembled to track down the gang.

The multi-disciplinary team, consisting of experienced detectives, the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, National Intervention Unit, Special Task Force and Tactical Response Team made a breakthrough in the case last Friday.

The team police received information that the unknown gunmen were then traced to a hiding at the Seven Angels Church in Nyanga village. 

In a shoot-out between a police special task force and the gunmen on Friday night, seven suspects were shot dead and 12 others arrested, while some apparently managed to escape.

The four of the suspects appeared in court on Monday and have been charged with the murders.

The matter has been postponed until the 8th of March when only two of the accused are expected to apply for bail.

The two other men have already abandoned their bail attempt. - SAnews.gov.za