Slain KZN cop’s wife finds comfort in justice system

The wife of a slain Durban Metropolitan Police Department officer is pleased that the wheels of justice are beginning to turn following the brutal murder of her husband, superintendent Errol Ogle.

Faith Ogle was speaking after the three accused, who are charged with the murder of her husband, appeared at the Durban High Court on Thursday.

“I believe that justice will be served, and the wheels of justice have turned so fast,” says Faith.

Errol (52), a Wentworth resident, was killed on July 23, 2023, when he stopped a truck that was driven counter-traffic on the Hans Dettman Highway near the off-ramp in Pinetown.

The court heard that Errol was unaware that the vehicle had been hijacked. The court also heard that Errol instructed the truck to stop, however, the accused jumped out of the truck and fired shots at him. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest and died at the scene.

According to the information received from the police, the suspects took the officer’s vehicle and firearm and fled the scene. The officer’s car was later recovered on Stapleton Road.

Accused appear in court

The three accused, Mlungisi Phakamani Mpanza (37), Mzomuhle Lawrence Gamede (34), and Sabelo Mncube (42), are each facing charges of murder, kidnapping and two counts of robbery with aggravated circumstances. A fourth suspect, believed to be the one who pulled the trigger, is still at large.

The witness, an e-hailing taxi driver, told the court he transported four men from Umlazi in his car after they promised to pay him R1 000 for a trip.

The court heard that he was subsequently instructed by the accused to follow a truck carrying meat on the M7. The accused also instructed the e-hailing driver to block the truck carrying goods, causing it to halt on the freeway.

According to the testimony of the witness, the four passengers then jumped out and hijacked the truck, after which they drove off, but allegedly decided to circle back to the scene to see if the job was done.

The incident prompted the Hawks’ investigation, and with the assistance of the metro police, they arrested the suspects within 72 hours. Mpanza fled and was later arrested in Estcourt. Days after the murder, police also detained Gamede and Mncube.

Gamede and Mncube were arrested in Durban while Mpanza was arrested in Estcourt after he tried to evade his arrest.

Errol was a metro police officer stationed at Queensburgh, where he served the community for 23 years. Cross-examination of the state witness is expected to proceed this week.