The family, colleagues and friends of the founder of the Thatha Zonke Anti-Crime Unit, Mandla Nkambule (58), who was gunned down in Katlehong on September 4, said during an exclusive interview with Kathorus Mail on September 5 that they had lost a crime-fighting hero of Ekurhuleni.
According to the SAPS provincial spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mvela Masondo, the victim was travelling in Katlehong at about 17:30 and was shot by assailants driving parallel to him. He then lost control of his car and was declared dead on the scene.
While lamenting the death of her son, the deceased’s mother, Ellen Nkambule-Ngwenya (78), said Mandla was a good man keen on fighting crime.
“He would go anywhere to fight crime, and on the day before he was killed, he called me and said I must prepare pap with sour milk for him. He came to eat the pap and sour milk and then left.
“After a few minutes, I was informed by a boy who is a Thata-Zonke Anti-Crime Unit member that he was shot near the Sasol filling station in Katlehong. Thereafter, Mandla’s son called and confirmed the incident had happened, and his father was killed.
“I can confirm that Mandla never mentioned he had enemies, and I hope the suspects are found and face the music for their actions. I hope justice will prevail. Moreover, my son was not yet married,” Ngwenya expressed.
Simon Mokwena (63), the deceased’s neighbour, said they had lost a community hero who fought crime at any cost.
“Whenever there was a crime incident, we would call him, and he would act on the crime. His death has hurt us as the community, and we don’t know who will help us tackle crime now,” stated Mokwena.
He added that Nkambule died for what the police should be doing – fighting crime.
A Thata-Zonke Anti-Crime Unit member, who only wanted to be named as Commander Bush, said they are already investigating the murder.
“Supreme commander Mandla founded the Thata-Zonke Anti-Crime Unit in 2003. He was the leader of all its operations, and after he formed Yizo Yizo, he became the supreme commander of that unit, too.
“He was passionate about fighting crime, and people must know he was a SAPS member in the 1990s, so as the leader of the private crime-fighting units, he fought crime within the law and assisted us with that.
“We won’t rest until we find the culprits because they took a hero from us,” Bush stated.
He said anyone with any information about the murder can inform them on their Thata-Zonke Anti-Crime Unit and Yizo Yizo Facebook pages.
According to the Gauteng SAPS spokesperson, Mavela Masondo, they have not arrested anyone for Nkambuke’s assassination.
