Hawks link alleged cop killer in custody to cash-in-transit heist in KZN

Maqhinga Dube was allegedly involved in the murder of Sergeant Thamsanqa Mbedu, 47, who sustained 27 gunshot wounds and died on March 6 last year. Picture: Supplied

Maqhinga Dube was allegedly involved in the murder of Sergeant Thamsanqa Mbedu, 47, who sustained 27 gunshot wounds and died on March 6 last year. Picture: Supplied

Published May 12, 2022

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Durban - Hawks officers from Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation have successfully linked and charged Maqhinga Dube, 28, for a cash-in-transit robbery and the killing of an off-duty cop last year.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said that on November 24, 2020, a cash-in-transit vehicle went to collect cash at a service station at KwaDlangezwa, Mtunzini, on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.

“One of the security guards went inside to collect cash while his colleagues remained behind. A group of armed suspects allegedly accosted two security guards at gunpoint and robbed them of their service pistols with live rounds of ammunition,” Mhlongo said.

“When the security guard carrying cash was about to reach the cash van, he was also robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects fled the scene in their getaway vehicle which was later found abandoned in the Manzamnyama area with an empty cash box,” he said.

Mhlongo said that a cash-in-transit robbery was reported at Mtunzini police station and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks members from Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime unit.

He said a joint operation consisting of the King Cetshwayo Cluster Tracing Team and Mtunzini detectives was conducted.

“During the operation, two suspects were arrested and charged accordingly. Their bail was successfully opposed and they will all appear in the Esikhaleni Regional Court on June 21, 2022.

“Dube briefly appeared in the Mtunzini Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday) and the case was postponed to May 17, 2022, for legal representation,” Mhlongo said.

Dube is also linked to the murder of Sergeant Thamsanqa Mbedu, 47, who was shot 27 times and died on the scene on March 6, 2021.

At the time it was also reported that Mbedu’s firearm was not found at the scene.

Police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili, said Mbedu was in an unmarked state vehicle, a white Toyota Hilux double cab, and was alone. He was accosted by an unknown person who came from behind the police van and then fatally shot Mbedu after an altercation.

Last month Dube was remanded in police custody after appearing before the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court for Mbedu’s murder.

Dube was arrested in March by Hawks officers from Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation and officers from Esikhaleni Visible Policing.

Mbedu, who was attached to the Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, was driving along the road in the Iniwe area. It is alleged that he had an argument with the suspects, who had blocked the road near a tavern. Mbedu allegedly switched on the blue light and the suspects fired shots that fatally wounded him.

“A case of murder was reported at Empangeni police station and the case docket was allocated to the Hawks members for intensive investigation. During the investigation, information was received about a suspect and a warrant of arrest was obtained. The suspect was on the run since the date of the incident until he was successfully apprehended by Esikhaleni Visible Policing on Saturday,” Mhlongo said.

A month after Mbedu’s murder, Hawks officers from the Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit had appealed to the public to assist them in locating Dube, who was allegedly involved in the murder.

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