Traffic officer’s brother killed on Numbi road

While CIT heists in the region wage on unabated, numerous arrests indicate that the Hawks have declared a war against these crimes.
With this in the background, the plot in the Khanyisile Nyalunga case keeps thickening.

Nyalunga (29), a City of Mbombela traffic officer, is suspected of being involved in the recent failed cash-in-transit (CIT) heist in Hazyview. While the case continues, her brother, Khulekani Seoko, also known as Mbhunu, a man who has had many run-ins with the law, died when he was shot multiple times in the head and body by unknown suspects. The motive is still being investigated. Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a provincial police spokesperson, said Seoko’s body was found by a passerby on the Numbi road near Salubindza Village last Wednesday August 9, at about 04:50.

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According to the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, Seoko had pending cases ranging from armed robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition and hijacking.

She said he was arrested on March 14 this year and was charged for possession of a stolen vehicle. He had been due to appear in the White River Magistrate’s Court on August 2, on the same day and at the same court Nyalunga was denied bail. She will appear again on September 27.

Nyuswa said Seoko absconded and was expected to appear again on August 15 for further investigation. The matter has now been postponed to September 19 for presentation of his death certificate.

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“No one has been arrested regarding this matter, and we do not know if the deceased was definitely related to Khanyisile. We are investigating a murder case and calling on members of the public with any information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to come forward,” Mohlala said.

A reliable source close to the Nyalunga family said the two were indeed siblings and were close to each other. Meanwhile, a funeral is being planned for this weekend at the deceased’s home in Mhlambanyatsi in Mahushu. The source also said the family was still shocked about his death and were scared the killers ‘might return and finish what they started’.

According to the provincial Hawks’ head, Major General Nico Gerber, a collaboration with members of the community is yielding positive results in arresting the criminals involved in CIT robberies. The Hawks also recovered explosives and weapons that were used in some of the CIT robberies.

Gerber once again confirmed the Hawks’ commitment to root out serious crimes by encouraging the community to keep on providing information, as they can see the Hawks are serious about following the information provided.

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“If it weren’t for the public tip-off, we were not going to arrest these criminals. The collaboration we have with the community members are indeed yielding results. I still appeal to the community to come forward with more information, as these criminals often hide in places at night before and after executing these acts.” He further warned the public not to enter crime scenes to remove any cash, as they contaminate crime scenes, and often, live explosives are still present on the scene, which can devastation if detonated. “Anybody found doing it will be arrested,” he said.

Gerber also said his unit will not rest until all the criminals involved in the heist are brought to book. He said the Hawks are engaging in talks with security companies to find measures to prevent these attacks. Six heists have occurred in just over a month alone.
The first heist occurred near White River on July 5, which left one security guard dead. The second occurred in Marite on July 8, another in KaNyamazane on July 17, and one near Mara on July 20.

Then there was the attempted heist that took place in Hazyview on July 27, which led to Nyalunga’s arrest. The last one occurred in Malalane, towards Tonga, on August 11, which led to the arrest of the three suspects; a taxi driver, Mosa Bhekifa Ngwenyama (30), a spaza shop cashier, Ali Obi Ebrahim (24) (a Malawian national), and a messenger at the Department of Agriculture, Mfanasibili Lawrence Lubisi (44). They were remanded in custody by the Malelane Magistrate’s Court on Monday. They are expected to reappear in court again on August 21.