Hawks to investigate killing of another Cape Town police officer

An investigation into the murder of an off-duty police officer in Cape Town in a shooting that left two of his friends wounded has been handed over to the Hawks, they confirmed on Friday. 

The incident took place on Wednesday evening, with 29-year-old Khanyisa Sitofile gunned down while sitting in a vehicle with Sanele Maqokolo and Siyabonga Centane in Samora Machel. This is the latest affront against Western Cape police with Anti-Gang Unit section commander Charl Kinnear murdered outside his home in September. 

Hawks to probe off-duty police officer’s murder 

The Hawks confirmed that they have received the docket and that the investigation is now underway, with South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa saying that perpetrator and motive for the crime remain unknown.

“An off duty police constable has died and his two friends injured after they came under fire from an unknown gunman in Samora Machel on Wednesday evening,” she said. 

“Reports at the disposal of police indicate the three were sitting in a vehicle in Oliver Tambo Road in Samora Machel when a lone gunman approached the vehicle and fired several shots at the occupants.”

After all three men in the vehicle were shot at, Sitofile was transported to a hospital in Lentegeur where he later succumbed to his injuries. 

Latest cop killing in Cape Town 

Sitofile, who lived in Khayelitsha, was attached to the Phillipi East police station. He had worked at the station for three and half years.

His colleagues at Phillipi East police station described the death as a tragic loss of a quiet member who was dedicated to his work, and the Western Cape SAPS management conveyed condolences to the constable’s family and colleagues.

Police in the province are still reeling after the killing of top cop Kinnear, who’s death has thus far led to the arrest of five people. After the hawks swooped on former rugby player Zane Kilian, it transpired that Kinnear had been tracked by the man who is now linked to a plethora of underworld related crimes.