Three months have passed since the tragic deaths of five men, including Julius Dywili, a beloved pastor from Windmill Park and the pain of his family remains as raw as the day they received the news.
The bodies of the men were discovered near a church in Windmill Park, each bearing multiple bruises on November 20, 2024.
Four of them were declared dead at the scene, while the fifth succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Yet, three months later, Julius’s family remains in the dark about what happened that fateful night.
According to his sister-in-law, Nompilo Ndlovu, they are heartbroken, in pain and confused.
“How could this happen? Why hasn’t anyone told us anything about the investigation? Every day, we wait and hope for some news, but it’s like we’re invisible to the authorities.”
“There have been no substantial updates from the police. No arrests. No clues. Only the unbearable silence of unanswered questions. And, with each day that passes, the grief deepens, the frustration grows and the wound in our hearts seems to widen.”
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Ndlovu said Dywili was a beloved figure in the community, known for his commitment to his congregation and his passionate work with local youth.
“His death has left a gaping hole in the hearts of his parishioners. To lose him so suddenly, to have no answers about how or why he died, is a burden we cannot bear.
“We can’t move forward without knowing what happened to Julius. We need to know why he and the others were killed.
“He was a man of peace. A man who helped others, who cared about his community. Why was he taken in such a violent way?”
She said in the months since the tragedy they have contacted the police, hoping for some form of closure. But every time they reach out, they are met with silence, or at best, vague updates that lead to more questions than answers.
“We feel like we’re being ignored. It’s as though they’ve forgotten about Julius like his life didn’t matter.
“Our family is grieving, and all we want is to know what happened to him. We need to understand why this happened to a man who only ever sought to do good.”
Ekurhuleni police spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela said the investigation is still ongoing.
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