POLICE have launched a massive manhunt for the suspects who shot and killed Richards Bay Minerals’ Human Resources General Manager Ronny Nzimande in cold blood in his driveway on Tuesday night.
According to the police, Nzimande arrived at his home in Pipe Fish, Meerensee, at 9.30pm when he was ambushed by suspects wielding semi-automatic firearms.
They fired more than 20 rounds into his BMW X5.
His terror-stricken wife and daughters were inside the house at the time.
Northern Region Protection Services, IPSS Medical Rescue, Meerensee Community Policing Forum (CPF) members and the Richards Bay police rushed to the scene and found Nzimande in a critical condition, bleeding profusely from multiple gunshot wounds to his face, chest, abdomen and leg.
Members of the CPF team assisted IPSS paramedic Richard Schouten with removing the victim from his vehicle to stabilise him before transportation to Netcare The Bay Hospital’s trauma unit.
But despite all efforts by the teams on the scene and extensive surgery on Tuesday night, Nzimande passed away early on Wednesday morning.
A case of murder was opened at the Richards Bay SAPS. The motive for the killing is unknown.
Tragedy
RBM Managing Director Mpho Mothoa said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the loss of their HR leader.
‘Ronny was a valued member of our leadership team at RBM and a good friend to many of us.
‘This is a tragedy for everyone at RBM and our community.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time and we are doing everything we can to support them.
‘RBM is cooperating fully with the South African Police Service to help the investigation,’ Mothoa said.
Déjà vu homicide
A strikingly similar killing occurred in Richards Bay five years ago when Bell Equipment HR Manager Zenzele Nxumalo was also fatally shot in his driveway by two men.
Investigations revealed that a company employee, Buhlebuyeza Majola, recruited Sibusiso Majola to execute Nxumalo to evade a disciplinary hearing for having been absent without leave. Semi-automatic firearms were also used in this attack.
An appeal by Buhlebuyeza to have his life sentence reduced failed a month ago in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
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