CENTURION - Investigations into the 2021 death of Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Sindile Mfazi, have been moved from an inquest to a full-scale murder investigation.
Four years ago, SAPS, alongside Parliament, announced the death of Mfazi, attributing his passing to COVID-19 complications.
But extensive investigations that followed years later would now see the cause of his death being looked into carefully.
This was revealed by police spokesperson Althlenda Mathe during a short media briefing on Monday night in Centurion.
National Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said Mfazi's family, who raised the alarm over his death, approached the then National Commissioner, who then instructed the SAPS Cold Case Unit to look into particular allegations.
“We can confirm that in the same month, his body was exhumed. There were examinations that were conducted that confirmed that a poisonous substance was found in his body.
“So we can confirm that the case was changed from being registered as an inquest docket to now a murder docket,” she said.
Mathe acknowledges that questions would arise over why it has taken officials this long, she said investigators first had to establish the circumstances surrounding the suspected poisonous substance found in Mfazi's body.
“The team had to determine whether it was accidentally ingested or whether there was an intention to kill him. So, following the gathering of evidence and information, the team is quite confident that they are investigating a murder case.”
Mathe said police are now looking at several persons of interest, who are suspected to be involved in this murder case.
To date, she said, the SAPS Cold Case Unit, working closely with the Special Task Force, has executed several search and seizure warrants.
“Two offices were raided this morning. The team then proceeded to two residential addresses. So, in total, four properties were raided."
Mathe added that investigations are at a sensitive stage and would not be able to divulge names or identities of the persons of interest.
As investigations continue, Mathe said their goal is to provide the necessary closure to the family taking into account the length and the period of the investigations.