Update: Suspect charged with ANC ward candidate’s murder

A 31-year-old alleged hit-man has been charged with the murder of former ANC Ward 20 candidate Khanyisile Ngobese-Sibisi.

A by-election will be held on Wednesday (November 9) to fill the now empty Ward 20 seat.

In an intelligence-driven operation led by the Hawks and Task Force, four suspects were arrested on July 31 for possession of unlicensed firearms in the Ezakheni area.

It is believed that the men are all linked to the Gamede clan.

During the operation, five firearms and more than 120 assorted live rounds of ammunition were recovered.

The firearms include one R1 rifle, one R5 rifle, one shotgun and two 9mm pistols.

The recovered firearms were sent for ballistic testing and the results indicated that the R5 rifle was positively linked to the killing of the ANC ward candidate, who was ambushed near the Leonardsville sports grounds.

Ngobese-Sibisi was travelling in an ANC election-marked Mercedes-Benz when a gunman opened fire, fatally wounding her in the chest and both arms. A white getaway vehicle was seen speeding away from the scene in the direction of Ezakheni.

The R5 assault rifle, linked to her murder, was found in possession of Siphamandla Gamede. The 31-year-old appeared in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application. However, the State opposed bail.

The alleged hit-man remains in custody, facing charges of murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

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