MPUMALANGA – The Provincial Head of The Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena commended the speedy arrest of four suspects who were found in possession of a hijacked vehicle belonging to the late Traffic Officer, Victor Thabo Mashego (35). Mashego was murdered on Friday evening, 22 July 2022 while driving from Bushbuckridge to Xantia where he resides.

It is alleged that Mashego was driving with two other passengers when they were hailed by bullets which hit him and was forced to stop the car, while other people managed to escape without harm. The assailants dragged the late Mashego from the car and sped off with it. The survivors then managed to seek help from motorists and called the emergency services who later certified Mashego as deceased.

The Nelspruit based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team received an information on Monday, 25 July 2022 that the hijacked car belonging to the deceased was seen parked at the back of the RDP house at Enginecourt Bushbuckridge area.

They proceeded to the mentioned address and found the VW Polo parked behind the RDP house. The owner of the house Yekelina Ubisi (66) foreign national was then arrested. Further investigation led to the arrest of Remember Ngovene (35), Jabulane Ngovene (46) and Venus Advice Ngovene (35).

The four accused appeared before the Calcutta Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 27 July 2022 and Ubisi was released on R500-00 bail and the three Ngovene brothers were remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 03 August 2022 for further investigation and legal representatives.

Further investigation revealed that Chris Maile can assist in finalising the investigation of this case, he is therefore requested to come forward. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the investigator, Warrant Officer Vusi Mpangane on 082 469 1860 or Sergeant Vhusi Mpunzi on 071 481 3250.

Source: South African Police Service