Hawks’ arrest of alleged hit-man

A task team set up by KZN provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni to address violent crimes in the Ezakheni area recently made a breakthrough by arresting alleged hit-man Themba Raphael ‘Kiniti’ Mvelase. The team comprises members of the Directorate Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the National Intervention Unit (NIU).

Mvelase was charged for murder and attempted murder relating to the ‘October 11 Massacre’ during which a vehicle was shot at on the Pieters road outside Ladysmith and other motorists collided as a result. Nine people died in the collision, while one person was shot and killed inside the vehicle.

This was followed by a shooting at a car wash in Ezakheni D-Section in which five people were shot and killed. A vehicle believed to have been used in the crimes was later found abandoned in the Weenen area.

During the arrest, two licensed firearms were seized, namely a .303 rifle and a 9mm pistol. Both firearms will be sent away for ballistics testing to determine whether they were used in the commission of these crimes. The suspect appeared briefly in the Ezakheni Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Monday, November 17) and the case was postponed to November 24 for a bail application. More arrests are imminent.

In a separate incident, another breakthrough was made relating to a case of murder which happened on August 28 along the R103 near Roosboom. Four people were shot at while travelling in their vehicle, resulting in the death of two people. 30-year-old Nkosiyakhe Michael Mabaso was arrested on October 20 in Steadville, in possession of unlicensed ammunition. He is set to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court on December 1 for a bail application. Last week, he was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder relating to the Roosboom shooting.

Yesterday, at the Ezakheni Magistrate’s Court, 35-year-old Sipho Khomba Mabaso appeared on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He was found in possession of an R5 rifle and arrested on October 28. His matter was remanded to December 4 for a bail application.

In the past three months, through efforts of local police and the provincial team, 31 people have been arrested for possession of drugs including dagga, mandrax and heroin. Another 27 people were arrested in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. More than 100 rounds of ammunition were recovered and 21 unlicensed firearms seized. These firearms include AK-47, R5 and .303 rifles.

Latest story update: Update: Hit-man found guilty of bloody ‘October 11 Massacre’ which left 15 dead