Alleged car smugglers nabbed for murder of KZN activist
Three suspects wanted in connection with the murder of a northern KwaZulu-Natal anti-crime activist
are behind bars.
National police spokesperson, Athlende Mathe, says the trio has been linked to a syndicate that has been smuggling stolen vehicles across the border to Mozambique.
"Thirty-six-year-old Thokozani Dlamini, 36-year-old Sipho Mhlanga and 28-year-old Xolani Mkhwanazi were arrested during a takedown operation in Empangeni this week," said Mathe.
"They were found with two unlicensed pistols and several rounds of ammunition. The firearms have been taken in for ballistic testing to determine if they have been used in the commission of crimes," she said.
Sipho “Juda” Mthethwa was gunned down outside his home in Manguzi in February this year.
Mthethwa, who was the chairperson of the Umhlabuyalingana Society Against Crime organisation, was at the forefront of the fight against cross-border crime in areas around uMkhanyakude.
Mathe has added that the suspects have been linked to at least 52 hijacking cases in northern KZN.
"The three have already appeared before various courts in northern KwaZulu-Natal including, Empangeni, Emanguzi and Ngwelezane Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder, kidnapping, car hijacking, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as house robbery"
