Forum chairman survives ambush
They then resorted to trying to kill Hlongwa because of his role in the mining issue.
MASHIFANE – Mr Chaka Hlongwa, a local business man was cornered by three armed thugs driving in a BMW 3 series at about 23:10 on September 1. He was driving his VW Polo when he was ambushed by a gang that was hungry for his life, but he escaped the bullets.
He was on his way home from his restaurant, TCN Road House & Grill which is situated at Mashamothane on the R37. The four shots went through his car, and only one grazed his arm.
Hlongwa alleges that he knows the person behind this violence and that he was attacked because he is the chairman of a development forum that controls the place where people dig sand in the area.
“I refused him permission to start mining in the area without legal rights from the community,” Hlongwa alleged. He told Steelburger/LydenburgNews that he no longer felt safe because he didn’t know the day or hour that the thugs would want to finish him off since their first attempt had failed.
He also alleged that the same person was offered a mining licence by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) without consultation with various stakeholders and the community members.
They then resorted to trying to kill Hlongwa because of his role in the mining issue.
He opened a case of attempted murder at the Tubatse Police Station on the night he was attacked.
The Tubatse police confirmed that a case of attempted murder had been opened and that investigation was underway, but no suspects had as yet been arrested.
