Vigilante attack leaves one dead, two injured

A man has been killed and two others seriously injured in a vigilante attack in the OR Tambo district, after residents allegedly accused them of stealing electricity cables.

Police spokesperson Capt Welile Matyolo said the three men, believed to be in their 30s, were attacked by a group of community members at Mpa village in the Qunu administrative area outside Mthatha on Tuesday morning.

Matyolo said police were called to the scene at about 11.30am.

A distraught family is appealing to the new provincial police commissioner to establish a task team and speed up the arrest of three gunmen who killed two friends and left a widowed mother of one of the victims seriously injured. The 60-year-old woman, Andiswa Nokhanyo Ntanase, who saw her son, Sihle, 28, shot dead, is now fighting for her life in a Mthatha hospital following the brutal attack on Saturday morning when the three men stormed her Manyosini village home in the Tabase administrative area outside Mthatha Ntanase was assaulted in front of her children and grandchildren when two of the men, both armed with pistols and hammers, broke into the home, kicking the door open. Manyosini is one of the villages in Mthatha notorious for stock theft and revenge attacks. “Many people are living in fear, if you are vocal on crime, the criminals will target you and are not afraid to kill,” family spokesperson Nothekanti Ntanase-Gambu said. “So people of this village, to save their lives, they turn a blind eye on criminal activities and criminals do as they please and fear nothing. “It is for those reasons that we appeal to the new provincial commissioner [Lieutenant-General Vuyisile Ncata] to send his provincial task team to arrest my sister’s attackers and send more police to patrol the area. “We hope that if special detectives can come here, even if some of the army can be deployed, many lives could be saved,” Ntanase-Gambu said. The horrific attack has left the community in shock. Ntanase tearfully recounted the attack. “They kicked open the door and … demanded money and firearms. “They said they’d been told I was hiding R1m and guns in my house. I told them I had none — how could I have R1m? “I’m unemployed! My husband, who passed away in October, was a general worker at a construction company ... I even offered them our livestock,” she said. I could see that they enjoy torturing and killing people and I was ready to be killed as well Ntanase was in the house with four children and grandchildren aged between seven and 28. “My son [Sihle], who was in another room, heard the noise and the breaking of the door and rushed to my rescue. “When he saw that they were armed with guns, he lifted his hands and pleaded with them not to kill us, not to spill blood, saying that my husband had just died five months ago. “They continued to demand money and guns and when he said we had none of those they insulted him and shot him dead with his hands raised. “They were brutal. They hit me on the head, arms and legs with a hammer and threatened to break all my bones if I did not give them the money and the guns. “But I told them that I had none. I was hurting that they had killed my son in front of me. “I could see that they enjoy torturing and killing people and I was ready to be killed as well,” she said. After the killing, they allegedly forced her to take them to a neighbour’s home, even though she was badly injured and struggling to walk. Police spokesperson Captain Welile Matyolo confirmed that two men — aged 28 and 36 — were shot dead. “After the first fatal shooting of the 28-year-old man, the terrified woman [Ntanase] was then marshalled at gunpoint to the neighbour’s house, where the suspects opened fire, fatally wounding a 36-year-old neighbour [Yamkela Mpozolo]. “The suspects allegedly ransacked the neighbour’s house before fleeing the scene,” Matyolo said. He said police were investigating two counts of murder and more cases would be added as the investigation continued. Click here to join the Daily Dispatch’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered straight to your phone Daily Dispatch

“Police were informed about the alleged thieves caught by the community members, all believed to be in their 30s.

“Upon arrival, police found two men lying by the roadside, both severely injured and burnt, while a third man had already succumbed to his injuries.

“One had already succumbed to his injuries whilst the two were still alive and were rushed to a nearby hospital for speedy medical attention. There were no community members on sight,” he said.

The condition of the two injured was not immediately known.

OR Tambo police district commissioner Maj-Gen Norman Modishana condemned the attack, warning that mob justice was fuelling a cycle of violence.

“Mob justice is not justice. It undermines the rule of law and leads to further bloodshed,” he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Bhityi police station head of detectives Capt Mlilo on 083-688-6571 or Crime Stop on 0860-010-111. “All information will be treated confidentially,” Matyolo said.

A 60-year-old woman is fighting for her life while her son and a neighbour were shot dead during a violent attack in a village outside Mthatha over the weekend. The incident occurred on Saturday night in Manyosini in the Tabase administrative area, leaving the community in shock. According to initial information, two gunmen attacked the victims using a firearm and a hammer. The injured woman, who is still wearing mourning attire following the death of her husband in October, remains in a critical condition. The motive for the attack is not yet known. Police have not yet provided further details. Daily Dispatch

Tuesday’s incident is the second vigilante attack in the district in less than three weeks. Zondi Mbube, 79, was killed in a similarly brutal attack on March 20 at Tabase village outside Libode.

Police said Mbube was assaulted with sticks and stones, hacked with machetes, and shot dead. His homestead — including a six-roomed house, two rondavels and a kraal — was set alight, leaving more than 20 family members homeless.

The attack was allegedly carried out by residents who accused Mbube of harbouring suspects linked to the rape and murder of 16-year-old Amahle Dlokwakhe, a grade 11 pupil, on February 27.

Mthatha detectives have arrested four suspects in connection with one case of kidnapping and one of vehicle theft at the weekend. In the kidnapping incident in Mbana locality, Zimbane, at 6am on Saturday, a 30-year-old male victim was severely assaulted by three male suspects aged between 26 and 28. They put him in the boot of a Toyota Tazz they were driving. The victim was dumped in a donga after the assault. Police were informed and their swift response led to the arrest of all three male suspects. The male victim survived the ordeal and was taken to hospital due to the severe injuries he sustained during the assault. The motive behind the kidnapping and assault is alleged to be theft of a cellphone. In Rosedale shortly before 4pm on Sunday police spotted a stolen VW Polo and arrested the 33-year-old male driver. The correct registration plates and licence disc had been removed from the vehicle. All four suspects are due to appear before the Mthatha magistrate’s court. TimesLIVE

Two of Mbube’s grandsons had earlier been handed over to police on suspicion of rape, but were released before appearing in court.

Police later arrested three suspects, aged between 35 and 43, in connection with Mbube’s murder. They remain in custody facing charges of murder, arson and malicious damage to property.

No arrests have been made in connection with the rape and murder of Amahle Dlokwakhe.

A Mthatha family is demanding justice after a 28-year-old man living with a mental disability was allegedly beaten to death after entering a private student residence in North Crest. Five men, including a security guard, have been arrested and charged with the murder of Phikolomzi Ngcwangu. The suspects appeared in the Mthatha magistrate’s court on Tuesday and were remanded. They are expected to return to court on April 7 for profiling and a possible bail application. Police have clarified that, contrary to earlier reports, no students from Walter Sisulu University were involved in the assault. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, Ngcwangu was assaulted between 7pm on Wednesday March 25 and early on Thursday. “The assault was allegedly carried out by a security guard on duty at a female residence, assisted by neighbours,” she said. “The deceased allegedly entered the female residence, prompting security to chase him out. “It is further alleged that the security guard was later joined by neighbours in the assault. “The victim’s body was found in an open field near the residence with wounds sustained during the assault.” Family spokesperson Zukiswa Ngcwangu-Dube said: “Only when someone is sent to jail will we feel some relief and be able to accept his passing. “All we want is justice for Phiko. No sentence can bring Phiko back, but accountability is important and is therapeutic.” Phiko was not a violent person — he was soft-spoken and shy. It was clear to everyone that he had a mental illness and posed no danger Ngcwangu-Dube said Ngcwangu had been living with his paternal aunt in North Crest, a few streets from where his body was found. “We noticed he was not at home early Thursday morning and initially thought he had gone to visit relatives,” she said. “We were devastated to learn that his badly assaulted body had been found in an open area near the residence.” She described him as gentle and non-threatening. “Phiko was not a violent person — he was soft-spoken and shy. It was clear to everyone that he had a mental illness and posed no danger,” she said. The five accused — Zachariah Mnqarane, 58, Shaun Gqiba, 31, Luzuko Xoko, 30, Lonwabo Mjanyelwa, 34, and Mzukisi Mjanyelwa, 46 — face murder charges. Ngcwangu’s cousin, Luxolo Ngcwangu, said the family would closely follow the case. “I will continue to attend the case until it is finalised, and we just pray there are not many unnecessary postponements or delays,” he said. “The quicker the case is dealt with, the better for the family and for society.” He said the case had drawn widespread attention in Mthatha and beyond, including interest from organisations advocating for people with disabilities. Civil rights activist Petros Majola, director of the Khula Community Development Project, said the case highlighted the need for greater awareness around mental health. “I am pleased that there has been a breakthrough in this heinous crime. It is especially tragic that the victim was a person with a disability,” he said. “We always advocate for the protection of those with mental health issues, the disabled and the elderly. “This incident demonstrates a pressing need for mental illness education and awareness in our society.” Click here to join the Daily Dispatch’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered straight to your phone Daily Dispatch

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