Sipho found dead

The death of Sipho Given Gumede, (47) will be forever imprinted in the hearts of those who cared for and who loved him.

He was last seen on August 3, and hijacking and kidnapping cases were opened at the Witbank Police Station.

There was also a missing person case registered, and Operations Co-ordinator of the SACCW (South African Community Crime Watch), Maureen Scheepers was contacted.

She distributed a missing person’s flyer on social media.

This follows after Sipho dropped his wife off at a family’s friend’s home and was supposed to fetch her again around 21:00 but never pitched.

According to police she tried calling Sipho but he did not pick up his phone and it was then later switched off.

In the meantime, police in Belfast was already busy with an investigation after more people went missing and this case immediately caught their attention.

An enquiry was registered in Belfast of a wife whose husband and his niece left their home on August 4 and did not come back.

During the investigation they were led to Siyabuswa Police Station where they discovered a vehicle belonging to the husband of the complainant, burned.

The astute investigators became persistent in their course as there was a preliminary breakthrough in the case.

They went back to Belfast to source more information regarding the disappearance of the victims.

Information surfaced that the victims were shot and killed allegedly by the three suspects who then dumped their bodies alongside the old Belfast-Middelburg road and the bodies of the victims were recovered.

Witbank and Belfast Police, as well as members of the SACCW joined forces and went on a manhunt to find the suspects.

The late Sipho was last seen driving a blue Volkswagen Polo.

During the investigation Sipho’s vehicle was spotted in Kwaggafontein, with the original number plates still on the vehicle.

Police also arrested two suspects in this case.

On August 4 his body was found in Thusanang squatter camp and a murder case was opened at the Vosman Police Station.

The body was identified as Sipho’s and the investigation continued, and police was now looking for his murderers.

Information led police straight to his murderers.

The four suspects was also arrested for and connected to a string of violent criminal activities that took place in Limpopo.

Two suspects appeared before the Belfast Magistrate’s Court pending further investigation and will reappear at the same court on September 2 facing charges of murder, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

They appeared in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, August 27 for their bail application and they will appear in the Limpopo Court for various crimes committed there.

On Thursday, August 15 a memorial service was held for Sipho to pay their final respects to a man who lost his life.

A flyer was distributed on social media, confirming the death of Sipho and messages of condolences to the family streamed in by all who knew him.

Michelle Lock wrote: “Hamba Kahle Sipho. Your wonderful sense of humour, courage and contagious laugh will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to your family.”

The provincial commissioner of Mpumalanga Lieutenant-General Mondli Zuma hailed the police as well as the community for bringing the perpetrators to book.

Sipho’s wife was not available for comment by time of going to print.