News / National
SA police invades Zimbabwe in search of killer 'brigadier'
02 Aug 2012 at 18:56hrs | Views
A team of South African detectives from Kwazulu Natal has been to Mozambique and is now in Zimbabwe trying to find alleged killer Musa "Muzi" Khumalo, who duped KwaZulu-Natal police into believing he was a brigadier from the Hawks.
Khumalo, believed to have fled South Africa after his cover was blown, has emerged as a charismatic conman, wanted for a murder in Chatsworth, who pulled rank on "subordinates" when questioned.
While working as a policeman, Khumalo helped police solve several cases, although they now believe used them to take out rival criminals.
SA police this week swooped on four of Khumalo's homes in Montclair, Malvern, Richards Bay and eManzimtoti. Police spokesman, Colonel Vincent Mdunge, said a team of more than 20 officers - comprising the KZN tracking team, the Crime Intelligence Unit, and Hawks from KZN and Gauteng - hadbeen working around the clock following leads.
"The team was in Maputo earlier this week. They are now in Zimbabwe," said Mdunge. "Information has it that Khumalo has returned to his homeland."
Three warrants of arrest have been issued for Khumalo, for murder, escaping from police custody and impersonating a police officer.
Mdunge said Johannesburg police were also looking for Khumalo for impersonating a national Hawks investigator. He said investigations this week revealed that Khumalo had allegedly committed a murder in Bayview, Chatsworth, in 2007. Initially, police reported that the murder had been committed in Johannesburg and that he had escaped from a prison there.
"In 2010 a warrant of arrest was issued at the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court," Mdunge said. "He was nabbed by Durban police and taken into custody. However, he escaped from the holding cells and has been on the run for two years. During this time he worked as an impostor cop."
Mdunge said Khumalo's house in Montclair had been occupied by tenants, while the other three, which were "upmarket", had been unoccupied.
Police are still trying to establish Khumalo's real identity, and what other assets he had, including vehicles and other property.
Mdunge said Khumalo had not been on the police payroll, nor had he been issued with an appointment certificate.
He said investigations also showed that Khumalo had allegedly faked his death in 2008.
"He killed his identity as a Zimbabwean national and was resurrected as Musa Khumalo. He managed to obtain a false South African passport and identity document with this alias."
Mdunge even had a face-to-face encounter with Khumalo, who walked into police provincial headquarters in Durban and berated him for a comment he made to a newspaper.
Mdunge said "Brigadier" Khumalo unleashed his tirade on him a few months ago. "He had helped to arrest Sibusiso Gcabashe, who impersonated dead musician Khulekani 'Mgqumeni' Mseleku," he recalled.
"He came to my office to interrogate me about a comment I had made to the newspaper in this regard. He claimed to be from the Hawks in Pretoria and was rude and arrogant."
Mdunge said a heated discussion ensued after Khumalo threatened to "cut me into pieces". "I was very suspicious of his behaviour. I eventually chased him out of my office," he said.
"When I think back, it was evident that this man was not a policeman. He could not even ask me proper questions. But who would have expected him to be so brazen and walk into provincial headquarters as an impostor cop?"
Mdunge said a picture of Khumalo was circulated by police late last week as a wanted person. "As soon as I saw the picture, alarm bells went off. I immediately put the pieces together and alerted the investigating officer."
When Khumalo heard his cover had been blown, he fled, Mdunge said.
In the past year, Khumalo had helped police smash local and international car theft and hijacking syndicates. He had helped police recover more than 40 stolen and hijacked cars in northern KZN.
Police suspect he was also involved with crime syndicates and that he may have used his "position" in the Hawks to shut down rival groups in a bid to sustain his alleged car theft and hijacking operation.
National police commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, and Hawks boss, Lieutenant-General Anwa Dramat, are determined to see him behind bars.
Khumalo, believed to have fled South Africa after his cover was blown, has emerged as a charismatic conman, wanted for a murder in Chatsworth, who pulled rank on "subordinates" when questioned.
While working as a policeman, Khumalo helped police solve several cases, although they now believe used them to take out rival criminals.
SA police this week swooped on four of Khumalo's homes in Montclair, Malvern, Richards Bay and eManzimtoti. Police spokesman, Colonel Vincent Mdunge, said a team of more than 20 officers - comprising the KZN tracking team, the Crime Intelligence Unit, and Hawks from KZN and Gauteng - hadbeen working around the clock following leads.
"The team was in Maputo earlier this week. They are now in Zimbabwe," said Mdunge. "Information has it that Khumalo has returned to his homeland."
Three warrants of arrest have been issued for Khumalo, for murder, escaping from police custody and impersonating a police officer.
Mdunge said Johannesburg police were also looking for Khumalo for impersonating a national Hawks investigator. He said investigations this week revealed that Khumalo had allegedly committed a murder in Bayview, Chatsworth, in 2007. Initially, police reported that the murder had been committed in Johannesburg and that he had escaped from a prison there.
"In 2010 a warrant of arrest was issued at the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court," Mdunge said. "He was nabbed by Durban police and taken into custody. However, he escaped from the holding cells and has been on the run for two years. During this time he worked as an impostor cop."
Mdunge said Khumalo's house in Montclair had been occupied by tenants, while the other three, which were "upmarket", had been unoccupied.
Police are still trying to establish Khumalo's real identity, and what other assets he had, including vehicles and other property.
Mdunge said Khumalo had not been on the police payroll, nor had he been issued with an appointment certificate.
"He killed his identity as a Zimbabwean national and was resurrected as Musa Khumalo. He managed to obtain a false South African passport and identity document with this alias."
Mdunge even had a face-to-face encounter with Khumalo, who walked into police provincial headquarters in Durban and berated him for a comment he made to a newspaper.
Mdunge said "Brigadier" Khumalo unleashed his tirade on him a few months ago. "He had helped to arrest Sibusiso Gcabashe, who impersonated dead musician Khulekani 'Mgqumeni' Mseleku," he recalled.
"He came to my office to interrogate me about a comment I had made to the newspaper in this regard. He claimed to be from the Hawks in Pretoria and was rude and arrogant."
Mdunge said a heated discussion ensued after Khumalo threatened to "cut me into pieces". "I was very suspicious of his behaviour. I eventually chased him out of my office," he said.
"When I think back, it was evident that this man was not a policeman. He could not even ask me proper questions. But who would have expected him to be so brazen and walk into provincial headquarters as an impostor cop?"
Mdunge said a picture of Khumalo was circulated by police late last week as a wanted person. "As soon as I saw the picture, alarm bells went off. I immediately put the pieces together and alerted the investigating officer."
When Khumalo heard his cover had been blown, he fled, Mdunge said.
In the past year, Khumalo had helped police smash local and international car theft and hijacking syndicates. He had helped police recover more than 40 stolen and hijacked cars in northern KZN.
Police suspect he was also involved with crime syndicates and that he may have used his "position" in the Hawks to shut down rival groups in a bid to sustain his alleged car theft and hijacking operation.
National police commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, and Hawks boss, Lieutenant-General Anwa Dramat, are determined to see him behind bars.
Source - Daily News
