The widow of Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) constable, Banele Sikhosana, is set to appear in court on Monday after being arrested in connection with the brutal murder of her husband. Sikhosana, 32, was shot dead on Vilakazi Street in Kwa-Thema during the early hours of February 7, in a cold-blooded attack that also saw his private firearm stolen.
It is alleged that Sikhosana’s wife orchestrated the hit on her husband. Witnesses reported that Sikhosana had been offloading stock for his tuck shop and was about to leave when two assailants confronted him. The gunmen shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene. Following the attack, videos shared on social media showed the widow, distraught and crying hysterically at her husband’s memorial service hosted by the EMPD. However, just a day later, the 42-year-old widow was arrested by police.
At the time of her arrest, the widow was surrounded by family elders and holding onto pictures of her late husband as she prepared for the funeral. It was revealed that two alleged accomplices had already been arrested and reportedly confessed that the widow was the mastermind behind the murder. Their statements led to the woman’s arrest.
The widow, who has not been named pending her court appearance, is due to face charges in the Springs Magistrate’s Court in Ekurhuleni. The couple, who had been married for five years and shared a two-year-old child, had celebrated a major milestone just a few months before Sikhosana’s death, with pictures circulating of the couple’s celebration after Sikhosana completed the lobola process for his wife in November.
It has also been suggested that this was not the first time Sikhosana’s life was at risk. Media reports indicate that the widow had previously attempted to poison Sikhosana, but he survived the poisoning attempt. Just a week later, he was gunned down. At the time of his death, Sikhosana was off duty, working at OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni.
As the investigation continues, the widow will appear in court, where the full extent of the alleged plot will likely unfold. The case has shocked the community, as it sheds light on a tragic and complex betrayal, leaving a young child without both parents and a police force grappling with the loss of one of its own.
