Officer from Pretoria linked to high-profile Gqeberha murder investigation
A Warrant Officer attached to the SAPS Cyber Crimes Unit in Pretoria has been named as a co-accused in the extended indictment into the murder of Nelson Mandela Bay prosecutor Tracy Brown, court documents show. The officer, Warrant Officer Xolani Busakwe, 42, appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrates Court after his arrest in Gauteng earlier this week and was formally added to the case.
The development makes Busakwe the fifth person charged in connection with the July 2025 killing. The State has expanded the indictment from 20 to 37 charges, alleging the accused were part of a criminal syndicate responsible for a campaign of violent offences, including murder, kidnapping, extortion and robbery.
- Busakwe is attached to the SAPS Cyber Crimes Unit based in Pretoria.
- The indictment now contains 37 charges, up from 20.
- The State is prosecuting alleged members under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
Prosecutors, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Marius Stander, told the court the five accused were alleged to have operated as a highly structured syndicate with a common purpose. The State invokes POCA measures, arguing the group participated in an ongoing criminal enterprise that carried out a string of serious offences across the region.
"The firearms charges remain part of the indictment because Brown was prosecuting that case and the State alleges it provided the motive for her murder," Advocate Marius Stander said in court.
Brown, 47, was fatally shot in July 2025 as she arrived home in Young Park, Gqeberha, while working as a regional court prosecutor at the New Brighton Magistrates Court. The attack occurred in full view of her partner and a minor child, according to court papers and earlier reporting.
The State alleges the ambush was organised by accused Buhle Mbini, who was at the time detained at St Albans Correctional Centre on charges related to the possession of an unlicensed AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition. Mbini remains on the indictment and the State says the firearms case provided motive for Brown's killing.
Implications for Pretoria
The presence of a Pretoria-based SAPS member among the accused has immediate local resonance. Residents and civic organisations in Pretoria have long pressed for transparency and accountability within police ranks. While the accused retains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court, the case raises questions about internal vetting and oversight when serving officers are implicated in serious organised crime allegations.
Legal experts and civil-society observers have repeatedly emphasised that investigations involving serving officers demand careful coordination between the National Prosecuting Authority, SAPS internal units and independent investigators to avoid conflicts of interest and to preserve public trust.
The State alleges the syndicate was responsible for a wider pattern of violence, including two kidnappings in the Nelson Mandela Bay area last year, and various robberies and extortions. The expanded indictment means the prosecution will pursue the accused not only for Brown’s murder but for linked organised-crime offences under POCA, which carries powers to immobilise assets and seek heavy sentences if convictions are secured.
Next steps in the case
Court proceedings will continue in Gqeberha as the State adjusts its case to reflect the expanded charges and the additional accused. The inclusion of a Pretoria police officer will likely prompt closer scrutiny of evidence and of any professional connections between the accused, their alleged criminal enterprise and serving or former law-enforcement members.
| Detail | Known information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Tracy Brown, 47, regional court prosecutor |
| Date of killing | July 2025 |
| New number of charges | 37 |
| Newly added accused | Warrant Officer Xolani Busakwe (Pretoria) |
For Pretoria residents the case is a reminder that the integrity of those sworn to protect the public is central to safety. The courts will now test the State’s expanded case and the evidence linking the accused to organised criminal activity. Meanwhile, SAPS and the prosecuting authority face the task of ensuring the investigation and prosecution are transparent and robust.
Further court dates will be announced by the Gqeberha Magistrates Court as the matter proceeds.
