The East
London based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation has arrested a
seventh suspect in connection with the murder of a Centane police officer in
2021.
Simphiwe
Mlinjani (44) appeared before the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on 14 October for allegations of conspiracy to commit murder, police killing, illegal
possession of firearm and ammunition.
He was
nabbed in Fort Beaufort on his way to Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape from
Oudtshoorn where he had been residing.
“It is
alleged that on August 30, 2021 police Warrant Officer Kolile Kulu, who was attached
to Centane SAPS, was shot and killed at his Ndabakazi homestead in Butterworth
after his wife had allegedly conspired to kill him with a group of seven
suspects from Komani.
“The
conspiracy is reported to have taken place a year before execution. The suspects are
alleged to have been approached with the hope of getting a payment of R1
million from the pay-out of the would-be deceased’s life cover should the
murder be successful,” said Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson, Captain Yolisa
Mgolodela.
Six suspects
were arrested, including the wife of the deceased, in October 2021.
The recently
arrested accused has been traced by the investigating officer since March 2022, to no avail, until his arrest on Tuesday, October 12, 2022.
Mgolodela
said Mlinjani will join his six co-accused when the matter goes to the
Butterworth Regional Court on October 17.
