By Johnathan Paoli
The case against Sipho Mahlangu, who is accused of murdering Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Tshwane Region 2 secretary Monicca Dube, has been postponed to 23 July for a formal bail application after he appeared in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Mahlangu, 35, faces charges of murder and robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of the 44-year-old EFF regional leader and election coordinator, who was gunned down at her Wallmannsthal home on 13 June.
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Police allege that Dube’s cellphone was stolen during the attack.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said investigators are still searching for a second suspect and are working to identify those who allegedly ordered the killing.
Speaking outside court, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team was confident it had arrested the correct suspect.
“The latest arrest is in connection with the incident on 13 June. I can confirm that the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team is also investigating the first incident in which there was an attempted hit on her life. Investigators are analysing whether this suspect was also linked to her attempted assassination,” Mathe said.
Dube survived an earlier attack in February after she was shot multiple times at her business premises. She spent about three weeks in hospital recovering. No arrests were made in that case.
Mathe declined to disclose details of the evidence gathered but said investigators believed they had a strong case.
“We won’t go into much detail on the evidence gathered, but we are quite confident that we’ve got overwhelming evidence against this particular suspect,” she said.
She confirmed that the murder weapon had not yet been recovered.
“The murder weapon has not been found, but we have seized multiple rounds of ammunition that were found in the possession of Sipho Mahlangu,” Mathe said.
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Police have not established a motive for the killing, but Mathe said a political motive had not been ruled out.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that her murder was linked to her role as a party member. The truth will come out once the trial into her murder proceeds,” she said.
She added that investigators were now focused on identifying the alleged mastermind behind the killing.
“We are looking for the person who ordered the hit. As investigations unfold, they will uncover who ordered the killing and what the motive was,” Mathe said.
Ahead of the 2026 local government elections, Mathe appealed for political tolerance.
“As the SAPS, as we get closer to the local government elections, we are calling on party members and organisations to exercise maximum restraint and respect each other’s democratic rights. No violence, intimidation or murder can justify taking someone’s life because of their political affiliation or competition for a position,” she said.
Mathe also praised the work of the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team, saying the specialised unit had arrested more than 408 suspects, including 179 alleged hitmen, since its establishment in 2018.
Dube’s husband, Hilton, welcomed the arrest but said he believed others were involved.
“As a family, we are happy that someone has been arrested because there have been multiple murders in our community without arrests. We believe there are more people involved who ordered the hit on Monicca Dube,” he said.
He described his wife as a dedicated community activist who held leadership positions within the EFF and local community structures.
Hilton also revealed that Dube had received what he believed were threats after surviving the February shooting.
“When she was in hospital, she told me there was a lady who phoned her. It sounded like a threat. I believe this person may also have been involved,” he said.
At Dube’s funeral last month, the EFF described her as a disciplined organiser and committed servant of the movement. Party leader Julius Malema also called for a thorough investigation to ensure that everyone responsible for her killing is brought to justice.
Mahlangu is expected to return to the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court on 23 July for his formal bail application, while investigations into the murder continue.
By Johnathan Paoli
The case against Sipho Mahlangu, who is accused of murdering Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Tshwane Region 2 secretary Monicca Dube, has been postponed to 23 July for a formal bail application after he appeared in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Mahlangu, 35, faces charges of murder and robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of the 44-year-old EFF regional leader and election coordinator, who was gunned down at her Wallmannsthal home on 13 June.
ALSO READ: Carrim’s postponement application deferred to next week and possibly behind closed doors
Police allege that Dube’s cellphone was stolen during the attack.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said investigators are still searching for a second suspect and are working to identify those who allegedly ordered the killing.
Speaking outside court, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team was confident it had arrested the correct suspect.
“The latest arrest is in connection with the incident on 13 June. I can confirm that the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team is also investigating the first incident in which there was an attempted hit on her life. Investigators are analysing whether this suspect was also linked to her attempted assassination,” Mathe said.
Dube survived an earlier attack in February after she was shot multiple times at her business premises. She spent about three weeks in hospital recovering. No arrests were made in that case.
Mathe declined to disclose details of the evidence gathered but said investigators believed they had a strong case.
“We won’t go into much detail on the evidence gathered, but we are quite confident that we’ve got overwhelming evidence against this particular suspect,” she said.
She confirmed that the murder weapon had not yet been recovered.
“The murder weapon has not been found, but we have seized multiple rounds of ammunition that were found in the possession of Sipho Mahlangu,” Mathe said.
ALSO READ: Madlanga Commission hears Lt-Col Gavin Jacob in full control of Port Shepstone drug bust
Police have not established a motive for the killing, but Mathe said a political motive had not been ruled out.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that her murder was linked to her role as a party member. The truth will come out once the trial into her murder proceeds,” she said.
She added that investigators were now focused on identifying the alleged mastermind behind the killing.
“We are looking for the person who ordered the hit. As investigations unfold, they will uncover who ordered the killing and what the motive was,” Mathe said.
Ahead of the 2026 local government elections, Mathe appealed for political tolerance.
“As the SAPS, as we get closer to the local government elections, we are calling on party members and organisations to exercise maximum restraint and respect each other’s democratic rights. No violence, intimidation or murder can justify taking someone’s life because of their political affiliation or competition for a position,” she said.
Mathe also praised the work of the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team, saying the specialised unit had arrested more than 408 suspects, including 179 alleged hitmen, since its establishment in 2018.
Dube’s husband, Hilton, welcomed the arrest but said he believed others were involved.
“As a family, we are happy that someone has been arrested because there have been multiple murders in our community without arrests. We believe there are more people involved who ordered the hit on Monicca Dube,” he said.
He described his wife as a dedicated community activist who held leadership positions within the EFF and local community structures.
Hilton also revealed that Dube had received what he believed were threats after surviving the February shooting.
“When she was in hospital, she told me there was a lady who phoned her. It sounded like a threat. I believe this person may also have been involved,” he said.
At Dube’s funeral last month, the EFF described her as a disciplined organiser and committed servant of the movement. Party leader Julius Malema also called for a thorough investigation to ensure that everyone responsible for her killing is brought to justice.
Mahlangu is expected to return to the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court on 23 July for his formal bail application, while investigations into the murder continue.
