A COMMUNITY of Mandeni in KwaZulu-Natal north coast, known for living in peace, started the year on a wrong footing following the gruesome murder of five people, including a ward councillor and two police officers, in separate incidents.
The police have swiftly arrested two suspected hitmen linked to the murder of Mandeni Municipality’s Ward 18 ANC councillor Phendukani Mabhida, 40, and injuring his 42-year-old sister in the Sundumbili area on February 4 evening.
Police are still hunting down gunmen, who are believed to be five, in connection with the murder of two off-duty police officers who got into a fight with other patrons at a tavern on February 5 at night.
The officers were killed along with other unidentified people while others who escaped death with bullet wounds were taken to a local hospital.
A traditional leader was also fatally shot on January 25 in the same area of Sundumbili.
A community member described the three incidents as shocking as violent crime was not common in the town.
“The community of Mandeni is very peaceful and loving but whenever there are incidents, they become huge and shocking,” said the resident.
He said these shootings had spoiled years of peaceful relationships in the community.
“Eight people were shot at a tavern, four died while others are still in hospital.
“Police (officers) died on a scene while another died on the way to hospital,” he said.
He said the assailants were using handguns to fire randomly.
He said the incident started inside the tavern when one of the two officers got into an argument with a group of young men, but it was resolved after the officers bought alcohol for the group.
However, later in the evening, the quarrel restarted, leading to the two officers being shot by men who were firing shots aimlessly.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the shooting started with an altercation between a police constable during the drinking spree.
“The argument was resolved peacefully and the constable bought alcohol for the five men (but) a little later on, the other constable had another scuffle with the same five men just outside the tavern, which resulted in the constable being shot.
“The bleeding constable reportedly ran back into the tavern with the suspects following him as they continued shooting randomly at everyone inside the tavern,” Netshiunda said in a statement.
He said three people, including a police officer, succumbed at the scene while the second officer rushed to a healthcare facility where he was certified dead on arrival.
“Police have closed off the tavern and confiscated the liquor after it was established that the tavern was operating illegally.
“The motive of the shooting is unknown at this stage and police are appealing to anyone who might have information regarding the incident or the whereabouts of the suspects to call the nearest police station or the crime stop number 08600 10111,” he said.
He said no one has been arrested for the tavern attack.
A murdered councillor’s relative, Jabulani Mkhize, said his cousin was at home with his sister when two men knocked at the gate and asked to talk to him.
“He came out and greeted them, but instead they shot and killed him.
“When his sister intervened, they also shot her before they left,” said Mkhize.
He said his brother was a jovial person who loved jokes, which left the family confused with many unanswered questions about the motive of the killers.
The Mabhida family has not started with the funeral arrangements of the councillor who left two young children because the sister, who is the oldest in the family, was still fighting for her life.
“When we visited the hospital, we were told that she has been taken back to theatre as her situation has not improved,” said Mkhize.
Netshiunda said the two suspects in Mabhida’s murder were nabbed when Public Order Policing Unit members were doing a routine patrol in the area.
“They spotted two suspicious men walking along the street.
“Vigilant police officers stopped and searched the men, and the two were found in possession of two firearms whose serial numbers were filed off.
“Further investigations by the Political Task Team positively linked the two to the murder of the councillor and the attempted murder of his sister,” he said.
He said the suspects, aged 31 and 34, who were also “positively linked” to the murder of a local induna, appeared in the Nyoni Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
In a statement, the municipality said Mabhida was sworn in as a councillor after the 2021 local government elections.