NHLAZATSHE – It has been more than a year since residents have gone up in arms and resorted to mob justice against a gang that was terrorising the community.
The calm after the storm left mixed emotions, as some rejoiced over the elimination of gangsterism, while others were angry about relatives who sat behind bars for standing up against the gangs, Wrong Turns and Vandals.
Little did the people know that their troubles were far from over. Another group of lawless young men has emerged, exhibiting behaviour similar to Wrong Turns and Vandals. The new group that has emerged dresses similar to The Wrong Turns and Vandals.
Mr Sizwe Nkambule, a resident of Nhlazatshe Extension 1, told Mpumalanga News that the gang had been seen robbing people at local taverns and the CBD.
“The unfortunate thing is that as residents, we fear for our lives and feel helpless because there’s nothing we can do. They get arrested today and they are out on the streets tomorrow. You act against them, you get arrested and denied bail,” he said. Last year February some of the Wrong Turns stabbed and killed a taxi owner, Mr Yanda Sibande at a local drinking spot.
A week later, roads were barricaded with burning tyres and a hunt was launched for the gang.
Those who were found, were brutally assaulted by angry residents who, according to them, had lost hope in the justice system that could not keep the vagrants off the streets. Three men were killed during the mob justice attack.
Two were members of Wrong Turns and one was apparently not linked to them. One of the two victims was also linked to Sibande’s murder.
Nine suspects, all from the taxi industry, were arrested last April for the murder of the gangsters.
One of them, Mr Mzamani Sibande, is a brother of the man who died at the hands Wrong Turns. All nine were denied bail at the Carolina Magistrate’s Court and remain in police custody. Their case has been moved to Mpumalanga High Court next Monday.
They face charges of kidnapping, murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Ms Gugu Sibande, a sister of the deceased and one of the suspects, said she felt that her brother’s arrest was a miscarriage of justice.
She was devastated, because it was as though the family had lost two members to the gang. “We are living in fear because we are aware that gangsterism has mushroomed again.
“We feel as though not all of them were arrested for my brother’s murder and they might be part of the new gang,” she said.
Another group of young boys, some from as young as 15, known as the Vandals, also disappeared soon after the mob-justice attacks.
The Vandals are suspected of killing two school girls and an old woman. All the victims were found dead in a nearby veld. One of the girls had stab wounds and the others had been stoned to death.
It is unclear when the scourge of gangsterism will finally die in the area. Meanwhile, residents hope that it would be over before many more innocent people lose their lives.
