A 22-year-old Mfuleni man, Blessing Ndibongo, will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on Thursday next week (3 April) in connection with the murder of Const Ayanda Moyikwa early this year.
It is alleged that Ndibongo shot dead Moyikwa on Monday 12 January when he tried to intervene during an armed robbery (“Unarmed police officer shot and killed in his vehicle in Mfuleni”, City Vision, 16 January).
Moyikwa, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, was stationed at the Airport Border Police.
Western Cape Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani reported that Moyikwa was on his way to fetch his colleague at Gcuwa Street, Mfuleni as they were scheduled to report for duty when the incident occurred. “While driving his private vehicle, he witnessed a robbery in progress at Gcuwa Street. During the robbery, a member of the public was assaulted and robbed of his cellphone and R100 cash. Moyikwa then reversed his vehicle and parked at 7157 Gcuwa Street, Ext 6,” said Hani, adding that the suspects approached his vehicle and shot him once in the head.
She said he was also robbed of his cellphone.
As part of the investigation, a suspect was identified and a warrant of arrest was obtained.
“The suspect was traced to Pollsmoor Prison where he was arrested on Thursday 20 March,” said Hani.
Following his arrest, he appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on Monday 24 March. The matter was postponed to next week for bail hearing and the accused has been remanded in custody.
A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity praised the officers for doing a great job. He said the suspect deserves a life sentence.
“Attacking a law enforcement officer is like you are attacking the state. Whoever killed the officer must rot in jail. The deceased was not even involved in the incident. The suspect went to him and shot and killed the officer.
The state needs to make an example about this young man,” he said.
He stated that the death of the officer was not only the loss to his family but to the community at large.