Two arrested for the murder of Ekurhuleni Metro officer
The Ekurhuleni Metro Police (EMPD) made a breakthrough arrest a day before the funeral of their inspector, Sipho Nkabinde, who was brutally murdered on January 3.
According to the EMPD spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa, the pair was arrested in Ivory Park on Friday, January 7 while Inspector Nkabinde will be laid to rest on on the following day.
The firearm suspected to have been used to murder him was also found during the arrest.
“He was fired in a hail of bullets while driving an unmarked police vehicle in the early hours of Monday, 3 January 2022 in Ivory Park Extension 15. His service pistol was also stolen after his murder. He was certified dead by paramedics on the scene. On Friday, the police investigation led the police to where his stolen service pistol was,” Thepa explained.
Ekurhuleni Metro Police Chief Isaac Jabulani Mapiyeye said that this is proof that crime will never be tolerated in Ekurhuleni.
“This serve as an act of honouring our fallen colleague. We hope he now can rest easy knowing that those responsible for his death have been brought to book and will face the full might of the law. Though it will not bring him back we hope this arrest will bring some sort of comfort to the family,” he said.
EMPD Chief Mpiyeye said the possibility of more arrest on this case is not ruled out.
He has therefore called on citizens to play their part in reporting crimes and coming forward.
A loved and dedicated servant remembered
After hearing of the tragic passing of Inspector Nkabinde, many of his colleagues and compatriots took to social media to express their grief.
Former Ekurhuleni MMC for Finance and Economic Development, Doctor Xhakaza, posted a fitting eulogy in honour of his friend and fellow comrade on Facebook.
“He is a generation of young lions in Thembisa who headed the call and protected our community under the Self Defence Units (SDU’s) and after the establishment of democratic local governments, he got integrated and worked as part of the then Lethabong Crime Prevention Unit…..later EMPD and worked in the community liaison unit (CLU), a critical crime ground fighting and intelligence unit….it is this high level of community intelligence that prompted me to recruit Cde Sipho to the VIP unit to assist with not only protection services but his ability to scan community service delivery issues including possible unrest….He is part of the Ekurhuleni regional leadership of MKMVA and very passionate about community safety and the livelihood of former combatants. He will forever be missed…he loved his community, he loved loved comrades….The murderers must be found and brought into book,” the post reads.
Inspector Nkabinde worked in the VIP protection services for the City’s councillors. He has been working close with Councillor Xhakaza for almost a decade.
