MBOMBELA – Since Mr Duncan Nyawo has walked to the Union Buildings to raise awareness about the brutal killings of farmers and policemen, red lights have flashed about the authenticity of his motive and story. But, this didn’t deter the local teacher and he continued his quest this week when he visited Mr Gerhard Kunneke, a victim of a brutal farm attack.
Nyawo won the hearts of many when he completed the 350-kilometre journey to Gauteng on foot on April 30 and received national and international publicity.
When he announced his intention to walk, Nyawo claimed that he had lost friends to a farm attack in KwaZulu-Natal some years ago and further claimed that his brother, Mr Thembinkosi Nyawo, was a policeman who had been shot and killed in 2012.
Nyawo fondly recalled the Senekal couple in Pongola who he claimed had been murdered during a farm attack. He said he had grown up with their children and swum in their pool, yet he wasn’t able to recall the Senekals’ first names nor the the year the murders took place.
Lowvelder spoke to several residents in the Pongola area and none of them had any recollection of a Senekal couple being murdered in the past decade. Mr Charl Senekal, a farmer in Pongola for the past 50 years, was adamant that no Senekal couple had been murdered in the area in the past 20 years.
“I am 100 per cent sure that you are being told lies. I have lived in Pongola for the past 50 years, and assure you nothing like this ever happened there.”
Nyawo’s second claim that his brother was an police officer at Ingwavuma when he was shot, was refuted by Sgt Helena Nyawo, spokesman for Ingwavuma Police Station. She said there was no record of Nyawo’s brother ever working there or being killed.
The claims were put to Nyawo who became visibly upset and defended his story. “Those who don’t believe me, can come to my hometown so they can meet my family and see my brother’s grave for themselves. I will also take them to the Senekal’s farm.”
On Wednesday he continued his awareness campaign when he visited the seriously injured Kunneke in hospital. Kunneke and his wife Lynette live in the Kingstonevale area and fell victim to an attack last Thursday.
He had gone outside to switch off a generator when he was hit over the head with a spade. His wife alerted Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit, but the suspects gained entry to the house and dragged her outside where she too was assaulted. The perpetrators fled the scene with firearms and electronic goods.
Gerhard sustained serious injuries to the head and was being treated in Mediclinic Nelspruit.
Nyawo was accompanied to the hospital by Mr Ian Venter and Mr Jaco Klopper, who completed the journey to Gauteng with him.
They have since established Africa Unite. “We as Africa Unite want to not only help and support the victims of these crimes, but we also want to experience exactly what happened during the attack,” Nyawo said. “We first went to the farm where Kunneke and his wife live and we helped to feed the dogs and water the plants because no one had been at home in days.”
Lynette showed them around the farm and explained how the attack had happened. Thereafter the group drove to the hospital to visit Gerhard.
“He cried. He was confused. He was grateful for my mission and gave us his blessing and support,” said Nyawo.
