Prophet’s guards accused of assault

PHOLA PARK – When 31-year-old Viwe Dlayedwa, of Phola Park, decided to buy the car of his dreams, he borrowed a neighbour’s vehicle, bundled four of his relatives inside and they all drove off towards Wadeville in search of his dream wheels.

However, according to Dlayedwa and his relatives, Mcikeleli Mankayi, Mandla Maninjwa, Sonwabiso Maqungwana and Yanga Qwaqa who are his ‘homeboys’ from rural Egcuwa, in the Eastern Cape – the five young men ended up near a parking lot lined with different cars of all shapes, sizes, colours and conditions.

Dlayedwa said it did not take him long to spot his ideal motor car among the parked vehicles.

“I then approached a security guard who was standing close by to find out more about the cars. But instead, without saying a word to me, the guard summoned his colleagues who suddenly came out from nowhere and began assaulting us with an assortment of weapons, including golf clubs,” said Dlayedwa, who was still attending to his wounds three days after the alleged assault.

“I thank the Metro Police for saving our lives.”

Dlayedwa and his friends explained how they were surprised when their assailants were soon joined by a man they claim was Mbhoro. They jointly claim the preacher and his controversial guards accused them of being “car thieves” who had come to break into the parked congregants’ vehicles in the church’s parking lot.

The five young men described how their violent ordeal at the hands of Mbhoro and his security guards lasted for several hours and ended only when EMPD officers, who were driving past, spotted the assault and intervened.

Mcikeleli Mankayi said he thought he and his four relatives were going to be killed.

“I thank the Metro Police for saving our lives,” he said.

The men showed Kathorus MAIL their bruised and deeply lacerated torsos and faces, which they claim were inflicted with such ferocity and brutality by Mbhoro’s guards, that they still all can’t believe how they survived.

“How can a man who claims to be a church leader do this to innocent people?” asked a still visibly-shocked Sonwabile Maqingwana, as he washed his still blood-stained wounds and scratch-marks on his body in a red plastic bowl on the floor of his tiny shack.

Dlayedwa and his Eastern Cape clansmen claim that during the beatings, Mbhoro’s guards searched them and removed all their personal belongings, including cellphones and took R750 from Yanga Qwaqa, which Qwaqa says was in his trouser pockets.

All five men said although they were initially arrested by the Metro Police after the beating, they were thankful to the EMPD officer for finally allowing them to leave without pressing charges against them. “I think they realised we were not thieves,” added Dlayedwa.

However, when they were being handed over to the EMPD, the five claim Mbhoro’s guards refused to hand back their belongings, including their cellphones and the borrowed car Dlayedwa was driving. At the time of going to press, the car the men were using was being held at the police pound, pending verification of ownership by the police.

“We are all seated here right now without our cellphones and as a result, we cannot communicate and run our lives,” said Dlayedwa.

The victims attempted to lay charges at the Thokoza SAPS, but were referred to the Vosloorus SAPS.

“On our arrival back home in Pholo Park, we went to the Thokoza SAPS to lay a charge, but they referred us to the Vosloorus Policed Station. That’s where the police officers on duty refused to take our statements and instead referred to the Alberton Police Station, where we were finally able to open a case.”

Dliwayo said in Alberton they were able to lay a charge against Mbhoro and his guards and they were issued with a case number.

Attempts by the Kathorus MAIL to contact Pastor Mbhoro, of Incredible Happenings, for his comment about the assault allegations proved futile. The newspaper even left messages for him at the offices of the local radio station in Spruitview, where he has a weekly religious radio programme, but with no success.

Captain Mega Ndobe, the police media liaison and spokesperson for the Kathorus SAPS cluster, described the incident experienced by Dlayedwa and his clansmen at the Thokoza and Vosloorus police stations as “unacceptable”.

“Any complainant has the right to lodge or open a criminal case with the police at any police station. It is up to that police station to then refer the docket to the relevant police station later. In their case, but because the incident happened in Wadeville, the correct police station for them to open a case was indeed Alberton. However, they should have been able to open a case at either the Thokoza or Vosloorus police stations,” said Capt Ndobe.

No comment was received from the EMPD offices at the time of going to press, despite the Kathorus MAIL having sent an e-mail as requested, outlining the incident in detail.