The relatives of a notorious panga-gang member, who was brutally killed over the weekend, are living in fear after they were attacked by a mob.
The family of Lucky Nkosi (29), also known as “Bhayi” claim that a rival gang and community members assaulted them and damaged their home on Sunday morning. The mob was searching for Nkosi to seek revenge after the group to which he had belonged, allegedly killed a rival gang member Solly Mgwaba (21).
According to Nkosi’s family members, a rival group along with community members arrived at their home at around 08:00 on Sunday.
“When they arrived, they didn’t ask any questions. They just broke doors, smashed windows and slapped us with the butcher knives and pangas they were carrying. They were assaulting everyone they found here, including young innocent children,” claimed one family member. He said they were now living in fear for another attack.
“No parents want their child to become a gangster. There is no person who wants his brother or uncle to become a murderer. Our relative was just one of those people and when we warned him about the dangers of being involved in a gang, he kept ignoring us.
“It is so sad that he had to die in the street like a stray dog. But he left us in trouble with all the people he wronged. They are now attacking us as if we were supporting what he was doing.”
According to Mpumalanga police spokesman, Brig Selvy Mohlala, Nkosi was killed around 08:30 on Sunday after police had attended to another murder scene in the area at 04:00.
According to community members, who spoke to Barberton Times on condition of anonymity, the death of the two was a result of the ongoing fights between the two panga rival gangs residing at Extension 11 in Emjindini.
He said the fight, which ended with the two dead, started at Mgababa Tavern. Mgwaba allegedly found Nkosi asleep there and hit him with a beer bottle. After Nkosi came to, he and other members of the gang attacked and killed Mgwaba.
Hearing of the incident, the latter’s gang then regrouped in the morning and went in search of Nkosi. They allegedly found him at his grandparent’s house at Extension 11 and beat him to a pulp until he died.
Both victims were alleged to have had long-held grudges.
Mohlala said police have opened two cases of murder. “No one has been arrested yet. Anyone with information that might lead to arrest can contact the Barberton police station,” he said.
