Widow arrested for plotting murder of Ekurhuleni police officer

Widow arrested for plotting murder of Ekurhuleni police officer

How the murder unfolded

On the early morning of 7 February 2025, Constable Banele Sikhosana, a 32‑year‑old officer with the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, was finishing a delivery for the small tuck shop he ran with his wife. Witnesses say he was loading the last crates onto his bike when two men stepped out of the shadows on Vilakazi Street in Kwa‑Thema. Without warning they opened fire, striking Sikhosana several times. After the shooting, the assailants grabbed his personal firearm and vanished into the neighborhood.

The attack was brutal and swift – a clear example of a targeted hit rather than a random robbery. Neighbours reported hearing the gunshots and seeing the officer’s bike lying on the street, while the killers fled on foot. The police quickly secured the scene, but the loss of a fellow officer sent shockwaves through the department.

Legal fallout and the widow’s arrest

Within days, investigators zeroed in on the widow, Sibongile Prudence Dlamini, 42, who had been working alongside her husband at the shop. According to police, Dlamini allegedly hired the gunmen, directing them to carry out the execution. She was apprehended alongside Nhliziyozabantu Magwanyana, 34, a man identified as the primary shooter.

What makes the case even more dramatic is the timing of the arrest. Dlamini was taken into custody during her husband’s memorial service, where she was seen clinging to photos of Sikhosana and sobbing uncontrollably. Social‑media clips captured the moment she collapsed on a mattress surrounded by family elders, only to be led away by officers.

During a bail hearing at Springs Magistrate’s Court, Dlamini’s lawyer, Ephraim Thalane, argued that his client was nowhere near the scene – she claimed she was shopping at a mall at the time of the killing. He also suggested that recently evicted foreign‑national spaza shop owners in the area might have had a motive to eliminate Sikhosana.

Despite the serious allegations of pre‑meditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder, the magistrate granted Dlamini bail set at R10,000. The decision sparked criticism from community members who felt the bail amount was too low for a case involving the death of a police officer.

Key points of the charge sheet include:

• Premeditated murder of Constable Banele Sikhosana.
• Conspiracy to commit murder, allegedly orchestrated by Dlamini.
• Armed robbery, as the perpetrators stole Sikhosana’s private firearm.
• Possible motive linked to business disputes in the Kwa‑Thema spaza shop market.

The investigation remains ongoing, with detectives reviewing surveillance footage from nearby shops and interviewing local residents. If the prosecution can prove that Dlamini indeed coordinated the hit, she faces a lengthy prison term under South African law.

For now, the community grapples with a mix of grief and betrayal. Residents who knew Sikhosana describe him as a dedicated officer who often helped locals solve petty crimes. The image of his grieving widow, now a suspect, adds a painful twist to an already tragic story. The next court appearance will determine whether the case proceeds to trial, and it will be closely watched by both law‑enforcement circles and ordinary citizens alike.