Cape Town law enforcement officer charged with kidnapping and murder

City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officer Thandile Khesa, 43, appeared composed as he stepped into the dock at the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, where he was formally charged with kidnapping and murder.

His arrest on Monday morning followed a multi-disciplinary, intelligence-led operation involving the Hawks, the Provincial Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Provincial Organised Crime detectives.

State prosecutor, Litha Duka, told the court that Khesa allegedly used a marked City of Cape Town Law Enforcement vehicle to transport the victim from Bellville to the location where he was assaulted.

The victim later died in hospital as a result of his injuries.

CCTV footage allegedly captured the movement of the official vehicle from Bellville to Khayelitsha.

Khesa has been added as the fifth accused in the case, joining Mogamat Samuels, Thokozani Kamnjunga, Existing Mudivari, and Yasseen Jele.

The four co-accused are expected to appear in court tomorrow for a bail application.

The State is opposing bail.

Reading from the charge sheet, Duka said: “The deceased had gone to view a vehicle advertised by Accused 1, Samuels, and was subsequently kidnapped. The accused demanded a ransom of R100 000 from the victim’s family. The family managed to pay R5 000, but the victim was nonetheless assaulted and died of his injuries. Khesa used a marked City of Cape Town Law Enforcement bakkie in the commission of this crime.”

Hawks spokesperson, Siyabulela Vukubi, provided further details, stating that the victim was last seen on May 16 in Kraaifontein by a friend, who said he was headed to Bellville to view the vehicle.

A short time later, the victim phoned another friend, reporting that he had been kidnapped and was being assaulted.

The suspects allegedly demanded a ransom of R100 000, later reduced to R10 000, of which R5 000 was paid.

Investigators tracked the suspects to addresses in Philippi and Kleinvlei, which led to the arrest of the four initial accused.

They were later led by one of the suspects to a shallow grave in the dunes between Monwabisi Beach and Macassar, where the victim’s body was recovered.

“On May 17, the team followed all the leads that led them to addresses in Philippi and Kleinvlei which resulted in the arrest of the four accused.

"The team was led to an open field on the dunes between Monwabisi beach and Macassar, where one of the accused pointed out a shallow grave where the victim was killed and buried," Vukubi said.

Duka requested that Khesa be detained at the Bellville police station.

The case was postponed to allow Khesa time to appoint a private attorney.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that Khesa intends to apply for bail. 

Cape Argus