TONGA – Two middle-aged victims were murdered in separate incidents last Thursday in Block C and Mzinti. According to Tonga police spokesman, Capt Mzwandile Nyambi, the first victim was allegedly assaulted by a mob in Block C, Phakama Section. The motive behind the assault has not been established.
The victim has not yet been identified. Community members who have reported someone missing are urged to visit the station to identify the body.
The other victim was allegedly shot and killed by an unknown suspect.
He and his girlfriend were sitting in his car in the bush in Mzinti at about 19:00 when they were attacked.
The girlfriend alleged that a suspect suddenly approached the vehicle, shot the victim and demanded cash from her. He took the money and told her to leave.
She fled home and reported the matter to the police at around 06:00.
Police officers went to the scene to investigate and the victim was certified dead by paramedics. No arrests have been made.
Police are urging anyone with information that could lead to the arrests of the suspects to contact the investigating officer on 082-464-6602.
Nyambi warned community members against stopping in the bush in Mzinti, as police suspect the popular lovers’ spot is being targeted by a criminal.
Earlier last week SPCA officials opened a case of bestiality at Tonga Police Station, after a video clip of a man committing a sexual act with a dog spread on social media. Police are investigating the case in the hope that the man can be identified and arrested.
Tonga station commander, Brig Velisiwe Mdaka, spoke out strongly against this crime. “This needs to be prayed for so that this kind of evil spirit may not spread,” she stated.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect is urged to contact the investigating officer on 013-780-8358.
Acts such as this fall under cruelty to animals and should be reported both to the local police station and SPCA. Nkomazi currently falls under the jurisdiction of the Barberton SPCA, which can be contacted on 082-462-1457.
On Tuesday morning a fight broke out at a school in the Nkomazi block and police were called to intervene. The fight was reportedly over local learners’ unhappiness that pupils from other areas were attending the school. Nyambi urged learners to stop disrupting their schooling and to focus on their books. (Read about a community protest over an overcrowded school here.)
The spokesman also mentioned community members participating in violent protests. “The public should stop blocking roads and causing unrest as this leads to arrests. Unemployed people won’t be hired if they have a record of public violence,” he concluded.
