King William’s Town - The wheels of justice may take long to turn but when they do turn, those at its mercy are not spared.
Sizwe Bebula, 39, who was on the police radar since January 2020, appeared in the Libode Magistrates Court yesterday, 17 February 2021. He was sought for murders in the Qumbu and Libode areas.
It is alleged that on 9 January 2020 at about 19:30 a well-known traditional horse racer was fatally shot by unknown suspects in Mbentsa area in Qumbu.
Also on 24 January 2020 it is alleged that an employee of Mhlontlo Local Municipality was shot and killed. The suspect/s were unknown at the time.
The motive behind the murders were not known.
Thorough investigation linked the suspect to both murders and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was arrested by Western Cape police as he was also linked to the murder of Zanele Mfumbesi, the school principal of Umyezo High School in Grabouw. On 18 September 2020, the principal was driving when she was shot in the Old Cape Road, Eersterivier. The accused appeared at the Grabouw Magistrates' Court on 11 February 2021 on a murder charge where he abandoned his bail application. The case has been postponed to 30 March 2021 for further investigation.
Bebula also abandoned his bail application at the Libode Magistrates' Court and will be back in court on 28 May 2021.
The charge relating to the Qumbu murder case was withdrawn but may be re-instated if there is new evidence.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga commended the investigating team supervised by Lieutenant Colonel Nceba Mshiyo on their sterling investigation. “An array of police components working together is crucial in ensuring that suspects are arrested and bought to book. High quality investigations like this demand a thorough and complete case docket in order to secure a sound prosecution and we believe that both the Eastern and Western Cape investigation teams will ensure that justice is meted out to the accused person. Criminals such as Bebula are a danger to society and must be removed and placed in prison where they belong as that will also give solace to the families of the victims he murdered,” added Lt Gen Ntshinga.