ONE of the men responsible for the murder of a Brighton Beach SAPS officer is appearing in court today on charges of robbery, attempted murder and murder.
The late 37-year-old Constable Thomas Qhamuka Kwela became a police officer on 2 February 2010 and joined Brighton Beach SAPS in March 2012.
On the night of Tuesday, 14 February, he and fellow Brighton Beach SAPS officer, Sergeant Tebogo Lesolle were conducting routine visits at fuel stations within the policing area when, according to media officer Captain Louise Le Roux, the pair arrived at a garage on Solomon Mahlangu Drive (Edwin Swales VC) at about 9.30pm. They were waved down by a petrol attendant who pointed at the convenience store where a business robbery was in progress.
“The spotter for the perpetrators alerted his friends of the police officers’ arrival. Three of them rushed out of the convenience store, followed by the fourth. Cst Kwela alighted from the police vehicle and pursued two on foot, running towards Ganesh Road, while Sgt Lesolle chased the other group. He turned the police vehicle around and travelled against the flow of traffic toward the Ganesh Road entrance.
In the interim, Cst Kwela was unknowingly being pursued by a sixth member of the armed group, who was carrying an assault rifle. Cst Kwela came under fire with two shots fired in his direction. It is believed he had turned his upper body around in the direction of his assailant while running to return fire, when his assailant fired a third shot in his direction, hitting him in the head.
Cst Thomas Qhamuka Kwela died with his colleague Sgt Lesolle by his side on the scene,” said Capt Le Roux.
The gang fled the scene in a white Toyota Quantum and six are still at large, while one, a 30-year-old man who was identified on CCTV footage, was arrested by Montclair SAPS. He was charged with robbery, attempted murder and murder and is appearing in Durban Magistrates’ Court today, 17 February. Police say further arrests are imminent.
“Brighton Beach SAPS acting station commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Sinayo Mtshali condemned the killing of Cst Kwela. She and her management have shared their condolences with his mother, family, friends and fellow police officers.”
“We condemn this brutal killing of a young police officer who died while protecting the lives of our citizens. Those who kill our police officers are the worst of the worst. They made the biggest mistake of their lives by attacking members of the law enforcement fraternity. We will spare no resource to ensure the outstanding suspects are traced and brought to book. It will be in their best interests to hand themselves over before our police officers pounce on them,” said KZN acting provincial commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa.
Read here: MEC condemns Bluff policeman’s killing
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