KANYAMAZANE – Residents of Lehawu gathered at the local Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to demand the release of a murder suspect. The man is being accused of killing an intruder in his neighbour’s house.
The suspect’s name had not been made public by the police at the time of going to press. Wednesday was to be his first court appearance since his arrest on Sunday. People who gathered in front of the court house said he should be released because he was acting in defence of his friend and neighbour at the time of the incident at about 03:00 on Sunday.
The victim, Mr Sibusibo Ncomgwane (25), allegedly broke into the neighbour’s house together with two accomplices. The resident caught Ncomgwane and called for help, while the other men escaped. The suspect ran to help his friend, and allegedly killed Ncomgwane.
A policeman on the scene remarked that people were fed up with break-ins into their houses, which he said were out of control. “When they break into your house and find you there, they kill you.”
Residents of Pienaar also held a demonstration against crime on the same day. The marchers demanded that the police station commander be replaced. Demonstrators gathered at the sports field on Wednesday morning before marching to the police station down the road to hand over a memorandum demanding that Col Herris Jali be replaced.
Mr Willy Nkosi, ANC councillor of the area who organised the demonstration, said the colonel should be replaced with a higher ranking policeman.
“The police must ensure the safety and security of all persons and property, uphold and safeguard the fundamental rights of every person, and ensure cooperation between the service and communities. As the community of Pienaar, we feel that under the leadership of Jali, this is not happening.”
Mr Mandla Msibi, another councillor in the area, said Jali was appointed because he was the nephew of the provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Thulani Ntobela. Brig Selvy Mohlala, spokesman for the police, said that this was not an appropriate channel of complaint.
“They must put is in writing to the provincial commissioner. When it reaches his office, we will launch our own investigation into their complaints.”
He added that there was no way in which the police would discuss its deployment strategies since it was an internal matter and done at Ntobela’s discretion. “We are thoroughly confident in the abilities of Col Jali.”
