Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

17 July 2024

Sbongile Petunia Sibisi (47) wife, and Ndumiso Romeo Mabona (23) stepson appeared at Amersfoort Magistrate court on 17 June 2025, facing charges of murder of Mr Sydwell Sibisi (61), fraud, and theft.

According to information at police disposal, on 31 January 2025, Mr. Sibisi was traveling with another family member between Volksrust and Daggakraal when the vicious attack occurred.

The pair was said to have stopped after they had a flat tyre, while a White Toyota Fortuner also stopped in front of them. It is further reported that two individuals from the Toyota Fortuner emerged, handcuffed the family member traveling with Mr. Sibisi, while the pensioner (Sibisi) was tragically attacked with an axe and a panga. The murder weapons were subsequently left on the crime scene.

A murder case was opened, and an investigation immediately commenced. A team of experts in the investigation field was assembled to work diligently towards apprehending the perpetrators. Their tireless efforts revealed some concerning details that the murder was somehow connected to insurance fraud and theft, whereby the suspects somehow used the victim and registered him without his knowledge, and cashed out on his death.

On Friday, 13 June 2025, a tactical operation was executed, involving the Standerton Dog (K9) Unit, Standerton Detectives, Daggakraal Detectives, Visible Policing members, and Shabangu Brothers Security. The coordinated effort culminated in the cornering of the two suspects in Daggakraal.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the investigative team for their dedication and effective collaboration. “We are encouraged by the arrest of these suspects. Murders that are related to insurance claims seem to be on the rise in our society. I therefore encourage investigators to continue to dig deep on similar cases, as it is now clear that we are faced with serious societal moral ills that somehow negatively contribute to these murders, ” said the General.