Port Elizabeth – Two men charged with the murder of an off-duty policeman will go on trial in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Tuesday. Charles Nqaba, 24, and Jabulani Mkaba, 26, appeared briefly in court on Monday where the case against them was postponed.
During July 2014 Constable Devon Hattingh was escorting a truck to Motherwell for security purposes when he was gunned down and left for dead while seated in the driver's seat of his VW Polo.
According to papers before court, Hattingh was observing the truck a short distance away when he was approached by the men who started firing shots. He sustained gunshot wounds to his body and died at the scene.
During the shooting two police officers were patrolling the area. According to the state, Sergeant Sisanda Qokosa and Constable Vuyani Libi saw the shooting and stopped their car.
When the accused noticed the police officers they opened fire on them and fled the scene. One of the men ran away on foot while the other drove off in a white Ford Fiesta.
Police later tracked down Nqaba and the Ford Fiesta was recovered a short distance from where the shooting incident took place. Mkaba was arrested at a later stage. Both the men are facing charges of murder, attempted murder and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The state alleges that the accused acted together with common purpose.