Motive behind Mtubatuba fatal shooting murky

The motive behind the fatal shooting on Tuesday of a 60-year-old man in KwaBhoboza, Mtubatuba remains murky amid ongoing police investigations.

Mphatheni Ziphaniya Ndwandwe was attacked at his home on Tuesday at around 6.20pm.

A family member who was inside the house at the time of the attack said the entrance door was shot at before Ndwandwe was gunned down.

ALSO READ: Teenager raped and murdered in eNseleni

‘I was in the bedroom taking a bath and when I heard the gunshots, I opened the window and escaped through it and ran down the road naked,’ the family member said.

Ndwandwe’s son, Sanele said he wants to see justice for his father’s murder, whom he described as a people person who would at times get into disagreements with others, ‘just like any other person’.

The family member who was with Ndwandwe at the time of the shooting said it was painful that he was shot in such a cruel manner.

She added that, according to neighbours, eight gunshots went off during the fatal attack.

The area’s councillor Sifiso Vilane urged law enforcement to take action and ensure that those behind the murder are brought to book.

Vilane further called for calm among locals and urged them to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

‘I knew him as a decent person who was trouble-free,’ Vilane said.

Induna Faninkosi Mkhwanazi sent his condolences to the Ndwandwe family and to his friends.

‘We rebuke people who, when they feel aggrieved with someone, decide to take steps when we as community leaders are there to mediate and assist with resolving any disputes.

‘People should not take the law into their own hands,’ Mkhwanazi said.

The Induna said there are abandoned houses in the area which have become nests for drug users commonly known as ‘ama-phara’ who are suspected of contributing to increasing levels of crime in the area.

‘I will hold a community meeting on Sunday and this matter will be raised,’ Mkhwanazi said.

He said he had heard rumours and speculation among locals that the murder may have been linked to

Ndwandwe’s alleged dealings of selling plots of land from a nearby farm.

According to Mkhwanazi, these dealings landed Ndwandwe behind bars several years ago but he could not recall exactly when.

‘I distanced myself from those dealings because I could tell they would not end well. But it is unclear what the motive behind his killing was. I have heard that he was also involved in the taxi industry,’ Mkhwanazi said.

KwaMsane police confirmed that a case of murder has been opened.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page  and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 060 784 2695

Instagram – zululand_observer