A police official attached to the provincial VIP protection unit was shot several times inside his vehicle in New Brighton on Tuesday morning – the second murder of a policeman in Port Elizabeth in less than two weeks.
Captain Wiseman Tyibilika, 50, who was dressed in plain clothes, was found dead in the driver’s seat of the police car in Tshiwula Street at about 6am.
His body was discovered after residents alerted police.
He had been shot three times in the chest.
Multiple bullet casings lay scattered around the car – one as far as 20m away.
According to police insiders, Tyibilika – who was stationed at the SAPS Protection and Security Services in King William’s Town – is not assigned to a specific protection detail.
Tyibilika, who arrived in the city on Monday, was the commander of a team of 34 bodyguards assigned to the protection detail at the Indian Ocean Rim Association conference which started at the Sun Boardwalk International Convention Centre on Tuesday.
The VIP protection members were in the Bay to provide additional security for several high-profile delegates from several countries, including our own tourism minister, Derek Hanekom.
Residents in the area reported that they had heard gunshots at about 3am.
The driver’s side window of the white, unmarked state car, a Hyundai Elantra, was shattered and bullet holes were in the side of the car as well as one in the front windscreen.
Tyibilika is the second police official – driving an unmarked vehicle – killed in the city recently.
Cluster commander Major-General Dawie Rabie as well as detectives from several units, including Provincial Organised Crime, the Hawks and Port Elizabeth detectives, were at the scene of the crime.
Bloodstains were also found on the outside body of the car.
“It looks as if there was a scuffle of sorts outside the car,” one official said.
“He either tried to get into the car to drive off or was forced into the car.”
While the motive for the murder is still unknown, officials have confirmed that Tyibilika’s service firearm, a Glock, was stolen.
Five 9mm cartridges were found at the scene – four outside the vehicle and one inside – all believed to be police-issue cartridges. “It is unclear what he was doing here,” another official said.
One official confirmed that Tyibilika appeared to have been shot with his own state firearm.
National police commissioner General Khehla John Sitole condemned the murder.
“I have instructed that the 72-hour activation plan be implemented,” Sitole said.
This entails the mobilisation of critical resources, including crime intelligence, forensic experts, the Hawks and tactical teams.
Sitole appealed to anyone with information on the murder to come forward.
Information may be provided via the Crime Stop number 086-00-10111. Police said all information would be treated in strictest confidence and callers could remain anonymous.
Less than two weeks ago, Detective-Constable Mthetheleli Mamana, 36, was gunned down after being forced off the road by two men in a VW Polo in Draaifontein Road, Greenbushes.
Mamana – who was also in plainclothes – managed to call for backup over his radio during the incident, but help arrived too late.
On June 12, Detective-Constable Bonga Ngcingwana, 35, was shot dead when four men in a silver Toyota Etios opened fire on him and his partner in New Brighton.
No arrests have been made in any of the killings so far.