No case has yet been opened against the mourners who illegally discharged some guns at the funeral of a Lowveld biker in December.

Empty bullet casings along Percy Fitzpatrick Drive were the evidence of hundreds of gunshots fired during the ‘after-tears’ party.
Reggie ‘M’Reje’ Mdhluli (34), a member of the Sun Riders Motorcycle Club, was killed in an accident on December 22.

According to the Nelspruit police spokesperson, Captain Zandile Nqawa, no case has officially been opened. However, the police are calling on those community members who were affected by the incident to come forward and press charges so the matter can be investigated and the guilty parties charged.

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The spokesperson for the City of Mbombela, Joseph Ngala, said though permission was granted to the Mdhluli family for a temporary closure of the street for the funeral service to be held, necessitating the public to use available alternative routes, there was no allowance made for what has become a ritual lately – the illegal shooting of guns at these so-called ‘after-tears’ events.

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These actions are strongly condemned, and according to Ngala, the matter regarding the mourners’ behaviour has been taken up with the family. “We are not talking about taking any action against the family,” he said, however.
When Lowvelder spoke to the family, their spokesperson, Make Wa Lathabo, said they did not want to be harassed and did not wish to comment on any of the paper’s questions.

According to an attorney of VZLR Inc in Mbombela, Section 120(7) of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 states that it is an offence to discharge a firearm in a built-up area or public place without a good reason to do so.