Hawks Arrest Correctional Officer for Plotting Murder of Senior Staff at Eastern Cape Facility

• The Hawks arrested a correctional services official for conspiring to murder senior staff at an Eastern Cape Correctional Centre
• Investigations revealed unlawful communications with an inmate involved in the assassination plans
• The suspect is set to appear in the Makhanda Magistrates’ Court following the arrest

Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.

EASTERN CAPE - The Hawks have arrested a 47-year-old correctional services official for allegedly conspiring to murder senior staff at the Waainek Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape.

Threats against senior management

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said the arrest followed an intelligence-driven investigation after classified information was received on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, indicating imminent threats against the facility's senior management. Mhlakuvana said the intelligence identified the Head of Centre and a Unit Manager as the intended targets. Both are responsible for the administration, discipline, and security of the institution. The matter was immediately prioritised and handed to the East London Serious Corruption Investigation unit.

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According to IOL, investigations reportedly revealed that the suspect, a prison warden, had communicated unlawfully with an incarcerated individual via WhatsApp. Mhlakuvana said the discussions included plans for the assassination of the identified officials. He added that the suspect allegedly went beyond threats, actively planning and facilitating the crime. This included attempts to recruit hitmen and negotiate payments of around R50,000 per target. Evidence pointed to a concerted agreement to commit a serious violent crime, meeting the legal threshold for a conspiracy to commit murder charge.

Following the evidence assessment, a warrant of arrest was authorised on Friday, 6 February 2026. The suspect was arrested at his home later that evening at about 18:20. Mhlakuvana said the suspect is expected to appear in Makhanda Magistrates' Court on Monday, 9 February 2026. Eastern Cape Hawks provincial head Obed Ngwenya commended the investigation team for their swift action in preventing a serious crime and ensuring the suspect would face court.

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Other crime-related stories

Five men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 60-year-old man on a farm outside Humansdorp. The suspects appeared in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court. The suspects, aged between 22 and 37, were reportedly found in possession of items believed to have been stolen during the attack. They face charges of murder, house robbery and possession of suspected stolen property.

A 56-year-old woman was allegedly run over and killed by her 66-year-old boyfriend during a heated argument in Seshego Zone 3. Police in Limpopo said the suspect, a former soldier and parolee, abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. A member of Tshimollo Security and Investigation, who was nearby, pursued him and alerted police after spotting him hiding at a nearby house. Operational teams quickly apprehended the suspect.

Authorities in Gauteng have arrested five people in connection with the hijacking, kidnapping, and murder of two women whose partially decomposed bodies were discovered. The victims, Nontokozo Mazibuko and Andiswa Sontangane, went missing in December 2025 and were reported to the police by their families on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2025.

Source: Briefly News