Two former South African Police Service officers have appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court in connection with a 1987 Durban murder charge. David Smith (76) and Jurgens Prinsloo (76) made their first appearance on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
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According to the Hawks, the pair were stationed at the former CR Swart Square Police Station — now Durban Central — when they allegedly removed Bongani Edwin Cele from custody for a pointing-out exercise linked to an armed robbery at a Chatsworth bus depot.
It is alleged that during the exercise Cele grabbed and attempted to pull the pin of a hand grenade concealed in a plastic bag, prompting the officers to open fire. Cele was shot twice and died on the scene.
The case was referred to the Hawks Truth and Reconciliation Commission investigation in October 2024. The Director of Public Prosecutions in Pietermaritzburg subsequently determined that both should be charged with murder. They were released on warning and the matter was postponed to 24 August 2026.
