Security guard appears today in KZN court for farm murder

Last month an outbreak of violence and arson erupted after the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Gift Siphamandla Xulu.

The ruins of the main farm house on Corby Hill

The security guard who is alleged to have shot and killed 22-year-old Gift Siphamandla Xulu on the Corby Hill farm in eShowe, KwaZulu-Natal, will this morning appear in the Eshowe Magistrates’ Court facing a charge of murder, Zululand Observer reports.

Last month, an outbreak of violence and arson erupted after the fatal shooting of Xulu, who, together with a friend, were found fishing illegally at a private dam on the farm and were asked to leave the property by the farm ‘induna’.

They allegedly turned aggressive and the ‘induna’ called the farm’s security company to assist.

According to reports, Xulu attacked the security guards with a homemade weapon.

A shot was reportedly fired in self-defence by one of the security guards, killing Xulu.

Police later arrested the guard, and he was charged with murder.

Rumours that the guard had been released exacerbated the already tense situation.

Farms were set alight and the R34 outside eShowe was blockaded with burning tyres and trees by disgruntled community members.

The protests continued and moved to Corby Hill.

Sugarcane crops, plantations and six sheds and a tractor on the farm were set alight, while other residential buildings were also destroyed.

“Some unknown person also fired shots at police at the scene,” said commanding officer of the Empangeni Public Order Policing Unit, Colonel At Slinger.