Zim embassy probes cop killer’s identities
ALEXANDRA – Certainty of cop's killers' identities in ambassador's hands
The Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa is said to be verifying the nationalities of four suspects who allegedly killed a police officer in Johannesburg’s Diepsloot township last week.
This is according to media reports following the fatal shooting of Detective Captain Oupa Matjie (54) by the four who are alleged to be Zimbabwean nationals. The incident resulted in protests with calls for undocumented persons said to be involved in criminal activities including other deaths, to be removed from the area.
“The four who were identified as Praymore Dube, said to be the kingpin, Bongani Moyo, Mongameli Mpofu and another one only identified as Ronny shot Matjie in the neck and he died on the spot,” the report stated.
The victim and a colleague were apparently tracing the suspects who were wanted for attempted murder and robbery when they opened fire on the police.
It is said that the Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa David Hamadziripi (told that country’s newspaper, The Chronicle) directed the Johannesburg Consulate to verify the nationalities of the four suspects. “The nationalities of the Diepsloot murder suspects is yet to be verified. You cannot claim that one is a Zimbabwean simply because of their accent without looking into their identity documents. I have directed our officials at the Johannesburg Consulate to verify whether they are indeed Zimbabweans or not.”
Condemning the fatal attack, the ambassador is said to have urged Zimbabwean resident in South Africa to desist from any form of criminality. “We strongly condemn any act of criminality by either our people or anyone in South Africa. We want our people to abide by the laws of our host country in as much as we would also want foreign nationals in Zimbabwe to respect our laws.”
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Late Matjie and a colleague only identified as Sergeant Thipe were with Diepsloot Crime Prevention Unit, tracing the suspects for a case of attempted murder and robbery in the area. According to a South African Police statement, an informant called the main suspect, Praymore Dube to supply him with the live ammunition at a spot in Ext 01. This was changed to Tanganani open space at Diepsloot Ext 3. The detectives are said to have hidden their vehicles before taking cover next to the open ground.
The informant walked to meet Dube while a police officer in civilian clothing followed him. When Dube allegedly noticed some unusual movements, he shot randomly and as he escaped through a passage to the informal settlement where he was staying, Matjie grabbed him from behind. Dube is said to have overpowered the detective, took his gun and shot him three times in the neck and head with it.
He and three others were traced and arrested. They were remanded in custody by the Randburg Magistrates’ Court. One of them is said to be under police guard in hospital for treatment of injuries incurred while being apprehended.
