Suspect Molefe Rapooie (27), arrested in connection with the murder of Detective Sergeant Maxwell Siweya at Joe Slovo hostel on March 26 last year, was found guilty and sentenced on August 14 to life imprisonment by the Johannesburg High Court.
According to the Gauteng Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, the suspect was also sentenced to 10 years for the attempted murder of Oupa Mabasa and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, including a sentence of six months imprisonment for contravention of the Immigration Act.
“Siweya (46) was killed when following up on a lead about a murder case. While patrolling in the Joe Slovo hostel, he noticed a group of men, among them a man who fit the description of the suspect in question,” he said.
Mavimbela said when Siweya approached the group, they shot at his vehicle and wounded him. He died on the scene.
“He was travelling with his cousin at the time. On March 31 last year, members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime in Germiston received information about an alleged suspect who had killed a police officer in Reiger Park who was on the run.
“The members followed up on the lead, and the suspect was apprehended in the Free State,” said Mavimbela.
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