Four accused of kidnapping and murdering man in Mkhuhlu
The victim was reported missing until his lifeless body was found in the Sabie River.
Enraged community members camped outside the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday July 12, where four murder accused made a brief appearance.
This community, known for its mob justice stance against perpetrators of crime, begged for the release of the accused on free bail, so they could deal with them.
The four murder accused, Evidence Nkuna, Prayer Mdluli, Kriel Khoza and Christ Zwane were arrested on Friday July 8 and charged with the kidnapping and murder of the 24-year-old Sikhumbuzo Sikhumbane.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga school thrash Western Cape in first game of competition
The victim, Sikhumbane, had reportedly gone missing until his body was found dumped in the Sabie River.
Providing information about this case, a Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said Sikhumbane was last seen getting into an unknown vehicle on Saturday July 2, and had been missing ever since.
“In the course of the investigation, police were led to the recovery of the young man’s body. We were able to follow some leads and quickly make the arrest. After police had apprehended the four suspects on suspicion of kidnapping, a charge of murder was added against them,” Mdhluli said.
Just before their arrest, community members who had already been helping in the search, had already begun making threats of taking the law into their own hands. Things became worse when the four were arrested and brought before court.
Some of the community members packed the courtyard, demanding their immediate release. “We’ve had enough of these gangs and criminals running and ruling our streets. It is known in these communities within Bushbuckridge that if you commit murder, you also get a necklace (burning tyre around your neck) or you get stoned. We are doing this because we have lost hope in the country’s justice system. We know that these four men will be given bail and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they kill again. So we want them handed over to us and we will meet out our justice the best way we know how,” said one community member.
The accused were remanded in custody and will appear again on Monday July 18 for a formal bail application.
The heartbroken mother of the victim, Dolly Sikhumbane, said someone gave her information on the whereabouts of her son that led to discovering his body and the arrest. “Someone confessed to me with information about my son’s disappearance. This person told me that they cannot sleep at night after witnessing what was done to him. We alerted the police about this confession and were able to make the arrest this past Friday,” she said.
ALSO READ: Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality invoiced R2 000 for 5 litres of oil
She began searching around a bridge near a lodge where the witness had said her son was last seen. “I alerted more community members to help us search the area. We got a lead that his body had been dumped in the Sabie River. The police came with divers, but could not get into the water to get my son’s body because of the crocodiles. I would like to thank a local pastor for his bravery who got into the cold water to retrieve my son,” Dolly said.
She highlighted that they were still waiting for an autopsy report to determine the cause and manner of his death. “But his mouth and eyes looked as if he was eaten by the animals when I identified him.”
