Union calls for arrest in city cop killing case

THE SA Police and Allied Workers Union (Sapawu) has called for an arrest to be made in connection with the murder of Constable Thando Sigcu two weeks ago.

Sigcu was killed in Heerengracht Street on January 7 while working undercover and apprehending a suspected robber.

During the incident two law enforcement officers stopped at the scene, and according to police, shots were discharged and Sigcu was killed.

The Hawks are investigating, and its provincial spokesperson Katlego Mogale said: “The investigators are obtaining statements as per the Director of Public Prosecution’s (NPA) instruction. Investigations are continuing.”

Sapawu president Bonga Makuliwe said the union was monitoring the investigation closely.

“Should it fail, we will use all

“The investigators are obtaining statements Katlego Mogale Hawks

resources at our disposal to hire private investigators and various experts to reveal the truth behind the killing of an on-duty police officer. We will even take the private prosecution route, if needs be,” Makuliwe said, adding the union had received information that the crime scene was contaminated before investigators arrived.

“We have been reliably informed that the gun that killed Comrade Sigcu was not found on the crime scene or on the suspect, but in the pockets of the suspect’s boss. We have been informed that footage from an address close to the crime scene shows that the life of the suspect that Comrade Sigcu was arresting was not in imminent danger. The law enforcement officers or members of the public were not in danger either. We are told that the footage shows that the law enforcement officer fired at Comrade Sigcu from a distance and there is no sign of confrontation between them,” Makuliwe said.

Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith said they “have no CCTV footage of the actual incident – only what transpired after”.

“We have had no formal request from the investigating officer to view the footage, but will supply it for the sake of full transparency. The City can confirm that there have been ongoing discussions between the Hawks investigator and the implicated law enforcement officer’s attorneys regarding the provision of a statement to the Hawks.”

Smith added that they were supporting the Hawks in their investigation.