SAPS Warrant Officer facing charges of Murder and Defeating the ends of Justice - Isipingo CAS 229/09/2011

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) arrested a police Warrant Officer (W/O), Thulani Obed Thango (41) for the murder of Sizwe Bayi
(25). The suspect policeman is attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit in Isipingo, KwaZulu Natal. The incident happened on 23 September 2011.

W/O Thango alleged that he shot the deceased on the chest in self-defence after the deceased had tried to stab him. However, the post mortem uncovered that the deceased sustained gunshot wounds to the back which were fired from a distance – this is contrary to the policeman version of events.

He further alleged that he raided the deceased because he was a wanted suspect in another matter under investigation.

IPID investigations revealed that the suspect was not an investigator in any case for which he claimed the deceased was allegedly wanted.

The suspect policeman was arrested by the IPID and appeared in the Durban Regional Court today, 08 August 2012. He was charged with Murder and Defeating the Ends of Justice. He was granted bail of R2000-00 with conditions. The case was postponed to 27 September 2012.

Issued by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate

For enquiries:
IPID National Spokesman
Moses Dlamini
082 809 1927
mdlamini@icd.gov.za