Ladysmith KZN –Â The three people who were killed in a drive-by shooting between Ezakheni E-Section and the Pieters road on August 31 have been formally identified.
They are Nompumelelo Thwala (22), Mxolisi Mncedisi Dladla (26) and Nhlanhla Fortune Zulu (31). Two other survived the shooting and were hospitalised with gunshot wounds.
Investigative research by a Ladysmith Gazette reporter turned up the fact that one of the deceased, Mxolisi Mncedisi Dladla, was a former member of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) in the Air Force division. When our reporter contacted the SANDF media liaison, Major Malope, she responded that the matter is now being investigated by the police.
According to Ladysmith police spokesperson Captain Bongani Nyathi, the shooting happened at around 11pm on the night in question. Police found three people who had been fatally shot inside a silver-grey VW Polo. The victims were a woman and two men.
A BMW vehicle was also riddled with bullets in the shooting. Captain Nyathi added that 51 rifle and pistol cartridges, as well as two bullet heads, were found at the crime scene. Ezakheni police officers are investigating three cases of murder and two of attempted murder.
These are the same two vehicles seized from the mayor’s house by SIU members last week.
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It is still unclear why the mayor had both the vehicles at his home or why police raided the mayor’s home to recover the vehicles.
