Police in KwaZulu-Natal are currently conducting a manhunt for suspects following the tragic murder of Lieutenant Colonel Sikhetho Mawila.
The 63-year-old police officer was a member of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Durban and played a crucial role in the Hawks’ Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Investigation team.
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According to Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Philani Nkwalase, Mawila was on his way to Durban from his home in Tsakane over the weekend.
He had informed his family that he planned to stop at a petrol station to refuel his blue Kia sedan before continuing his journey to work.
However, after numerous attempts to reach him via his private and state-issued cell phone, his family became concerned and filed a missing person’s report with the local police.
On Monday, Tsakane police received information that a passer-by had discovered a lifeless body in an open field in Tsakane, Ext 9.
The body was later identified by Mawila’s family, who confirmed his tragic demise. The autopsy revealed that he had sustained two gunshot wounds and three stab wounds, leading investigators to open a case of murder, kidnapping, and hijacking at the Hlanganani police station.
The Hawks’ national head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has assigned a multidisciplinary team to investigate the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Sikhetho Mawila and bring the perpetrators to justice. The team will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to solve this heinous crime.
Colonel Nkwalase expressed his deepest condolences to Mawila’s family and colleagues, acknowledging the immense loss they are experiencing. The murder of a dedicated and experienced law enforcement officer is a tragic blow to the community and the fight against crime.
