A man accused of murdering Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Tshwane Region Two Secretary and Election Coordinator Monica Dube has appeared in the Cullinan Magistrates’ Court, with the case postponed to allow for a formal bail application.
Sipho Lucky Mahlangu, 34, briefly appeared before the court on Wednesday and remains in custody. He faces charges of murder and aggravated robbery in connection with Dube’s killing. The matter was postponed to 23 July.
According to South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Dube was attacked during the early hours of 13 June at her home in Wallmannsthal, north of Pretoria.
Prosecutors allege that Mahlangu and an accomplice gained entry to the property through a window before confronting Dube in her bedroom.
The NPA said the suspects allegedly shot Dube in the head in front of her children before stealing her cellphone and fleeing the scene.
Police arrested Mahlangu after Dube’s daughter allegedly recognised him at a taxi rank on 4 July and alerted authorities.
The suspect was apprehended by the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team, which is continuing its investigation into the case.
Authorities believe a second suspect was involved in the attack and are still searching for him.
Police are also investigating whether Dube’s murder is connected to an earlier attempt on her life in February 2026, during which she was reportedly shot about 11 times. She survived that attack after spending weeks in intensive care before recovering.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said investigators had made significant progress and were confident they had arrested one of the suspected hitmen responsible for the June killing.
She said the Political Killings Task Team has made more than 408 arrests since its establishment in 2018, including 179 suspected hitmen, while securing several convictions.
Mathe said the arrest of Mahlangu within weeks of Dube’s death demonstrated the unit’s commitment to solving politically motivated killings.
Meanwhile, Dube’s family welcomed the arrest but said justice would only be achieved once everyone involved in the alleged assassination, including anyone who may have orchestrated it, had been brought before the courts.
Relatives described Dube as a committed community activist who campaigned for improved service delivery, including better access to water and electricity.
The family also revealed that following the February shooting, Dube allegedly told them her attackers had warned her to stay away from a particular project, reinforcing their belief that the murder was carefully planned.
The case returns to the Cullinan Magistrates’ Court on 23 July for Mahlangu’s formal bail application.
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