(VIDEO) Security guard found guilty of fatal 2022 attack on municipal workers
The judgment was handed down in a court filled with anxious municipal workers and family members of the victims in the Middelburg High Court.
Today (Friday), judgment was handed down regarding the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality shooting that happened in 2022.
The shooting led to the death of Tshepo Maseko, while Sarel Vilakazi, Harris Sithole, and Sibusiso Thabang all sustained serious injuries.
The judgment was handed down in a court filled with anxious municipal workers and family members of the victims in the Middelburg High Court.
In August 2022, Nqubeko Bright Mchunu, who at the time was employed by PPP Protection and Security, fired five shots, killing Maseko and seriously injuring Vilakazi, Sithole, and Thabang.
At the time, PPP Protection and Security was appointed by the municipality to protect municipal infrastructure and Municipal Manager Thokozile Zulu, the interim municipal manager at the time, against striking employees who wanted their pay grades raised.
During his testimony, Mchunu told the court that he was defending his life from the angry mob who were holding stones and other objects.
Acting judge GB Herman said this was not true, as video footage shown in court contradicted his statement. He also said Mchunu repeatedly lied in court and changed his statement to fit his self-defence narrative.
@middelburgobserver Steve Tshwete Local Municipality workers and victims’ families celebrate outside Middelburg Magistrate’s Court after a security guard is found guilty of a deadly 2022 attack.
It was revealed in court that on the day of the shooting, Maseko was travelling with Sonko William Mdluli in a Ford Ranger on Wanderers Avenue near the civic centre when it was shot at.
One shot hit the bakkie’s window and damaged it. Mdluli then drove towards the gate, abruptly stopped at the municipal gate, forced it open, and went to confront security guards for shooting at his vehicle.
A serious conflict then erupted, leading to the fatal shooting of Maseko.
The judge deliberated on his judgment for nearly three hours.
Finally, he said Mchunu was reckless and knew the consequences of his actions as he was a trained security officer who should’ve been well aware of crowd control procedures.
He knew the effects of using a semi-automatic rifle and failed to fire a warning shot.
READ MORE: WATCH: Court to deliver judgment in the 2022 municipal shooting case
Soon after judgment, Mchunu’s defence lawyer told the court that his client wanted to request a pre-sentencing report.
The Middelburg Observer spoke to Sarel Vilakazi, one of the victims, who has been left permanently disabled after the shooting.
He said he was relieved that justice has prevailed, and he plans to now go after the municipality to hold them accountable.
The matter was postponed to Monday.
Read more about this story in next week’s edition of the Middelburg Observer, where more details on the judgment will be revealed.
