The funeral of Constable Banele Skosana, a dedicated Ekurhuleni Metro police officer, was marked by grief and shock as new details about his tragic murder emerged. The 33-year-old officer was brutally gunned down on 7 February, in what authorities believe was a targeted hit.
A Tragic Killing
Constable Skosana was shot dead while offloading stock from his car to his spaza shop. The fatal attack, which occurred in Kwa-Thema, was initially thought to be linked to the recent killings of other spaza shop owners in the area. However, investigations took a dramatic turn when one of the suspected hitmen was arrested at Thema Hostel earlier in the week.
Shocking Arrest of the Officer’s Wife
In a stunning development, police apprehended Skosana’s wife just a day before his funeral. According to authorities, the arrested hitman confessed to working with the officer’s wife in planning the murder. Both suspects, along with a second hitman, are scheduled to appear in the Springs Magistrates Court on Monday, 17 February.
A Community in Mourning
Skosana’s funeral took place at Faith Mission Church in Kwa-Thema on Saturday, 15 February. The service was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and officials from the Ekurhuleni Municipality, all gathered to pay their final respects to the fallen officer. The church hall was filled with mourners, many of whom were struggling to comprehend the brutal loss of their beloved friend and protector.
Ekurhuleni Community Safety MMC Sizakele Masuku condemned the killing and emphasized the government’s commitment to hunting down criminals, no matter where they flee. “We now have powers to fetch them from any province they run to,” she stated, reassuring the community that justice would be served.
Justice for Skosana
The tragic murder of Constable Banele Skosana has left the Kwa-Thema community shaken, with many questioning how such a heinous crime could unfold so close to home. The arrests of the alleged hitmen and his wife have only added to the shock, turning what was already a tragic case into an even more chilling event.