Latest news with #ThandileKhesa


Eyewitness News
17 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Cape Town cop accused of kidnapping, murder to await bail application outcome
CAPE TOWN - A Cape Town law enforcement officer accused of kidnapping and murder will have to wait until next week to find out if he'll be released on bail or not. Thandile Khesa made a brief appearance at the Blue Downs Magistrates Court on Thursday, alongside four of his co-accused. The group is accused of kidnapping a man in Kraaifontein on 16 May 2025, when he responded to an online advert for a car on sale but ended up dead. The prosecution's case suggests that 43-year-old Khesa met with the deceased in Bellville, kidnapped him, and drove in a State-branded car to an open field near Khayelitsha. It's further alleged that Khesa, together with Mogamat Samuels, Thokozani Kamnjunga, Existing Mudivari and Yaseen Jele, then demanded a ransom of R100,000 from the victim's family for his release. When the family couldn't come up with the ransom money, the amount was reduced to R5,000, which was paid into a bank account provided by the accused. Detectives were able to trace Samuels, Kamnjunga, Mudivari, and Jele to addresses in Philippi and Kleinvlei a day after the alleged kidnapping took place. One of the accused led detectives to the crime scene between Monwabisi Beach and Macassar, where he pointed out a shallow grave where the victim was buried. The law enforcement officer's bail application has been postponed until next week on Tuesday, while his co-accused will apply for bail later on Thursday.

IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Cape Town law enforcement officer charged with kidnapping and murder
Law Enforcement officer Thandile Khesa appeared in Blue Downs Magistrates' Court for kidnapping and murder. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers 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. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 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.

IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Law enforcement officer in the dock for kidnapping and murder
Law Enforcement officer Thandile Khesa appeared in Blue Downs Magistrates' Court for kidnapping and murder. Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media A City Law Enforcement officer appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates' Court on Tuesday in connection with a kidnapping and murder case that has shocked the community. Thandile Khesa, 43, appeared composed as he stepped into the dock, 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 on Thursday, for a bail application. The State is opposing bail. Reading from the charge sheet, Duka explained: '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 R5000, 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 16 May in Kraaifontein by a friend, who said he was headed to Bellville to view a 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 R5000 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, 2025, 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.

IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Cape town law enforcement officer appears in court for kidnapping and murder
Law Enforcement officer Thandile Khesa appeared in Blue Downs Magistrates' Court for kidnapping and murder. Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media A City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officer appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates' Court on Tuesday in connection with a kidnapping and murder case that has shocked the community. Thandile Khesa, 43, appeared composed as he stepped into the dock, 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 on Thursday, 12 June, for a bail application. The State is opposing bail. Reading from the charge sheet, Duka explained: '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 16 May in Kraaifontein by a friend, who said he was headed to Bellville to view a 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 17 May 2025, 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.