Mob justice attack: 5 dumped in Gauteng dams, 2 still missing

The family of a mob justice victim, who was allegedly dumped in a dam in Springs, Gauteng in the early hours of Saturday morning, are pleading with his attackers to show them the location.

Nhlakanipho Ngwenya (31) together with 24-year-old Nathi (surname unknown) are still missing after they were kidnapped together with three of their friends, Bavumile (surname unknown), Sandile Nkosi (40), and Mbongeni Nene (23), for allegedly knowing where goods stolen in a break-in incident in Kwa-Thema were sold.

After the group were kidnapped and assaulted, they were allegedly dumped at various locations. Three of the five men, Bavumile, Nkosi, and Nene, survived to tell the tale.

The suspect who was reponsible for the break-in handed himself over to the police after escaping from the angry mob.

On Friday night, the mob visited Bavumile’s house in Mzombe, demanding that the friends reveal where the stolen goods were sold.

Nene says they were assaulted and stripped. The mob then allegedly forced Nene, Ngwenya, and Nathi into the boot of two cars they were travelling in.

“They assaulted Nathi and Nhlakanipho until they lost consciousness and later dumped their bodies in a dam. The suspects then took the decision to dump me in a dam in Nigel,” he says.

Nene says they drove around until the car stopped and was stationary for over an hour and it was quiet outside.

“I escaped by unlocking the boot by forcing my finger through the lock. I noticed that the car was parked at a house in Extension 3 in Kwa-Thema. I ran into the house asking for help. They refused to help but gave me pants to cover up my body.

“I ran into a woman who was on her way to work who agreed to pay for my taxi fare go home,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Nkosi was dumped into a dam in Endicott. He survived the ordeal by holding on to the reeds.

“I screamed for help until a motorist, who had stopped on the side of the road to relieve himself, heard my screams.

“He threw a rope for me to tie around my torso and managed to pull me out. He offered to drive me home to safety. I survived by sheer luck,” he says.

Ngwenya’s sister, Mbali, is demanding to know where her brother who is still missing, was dumped.

“We have accepted that he is dead. All we want is to give him a dignified funeral and for the suspects to be arrested,” she says.

Ekurhuleni SAPS district spokesperson Nelda Sekgobela confirmed that they are investigating cases of missing persons, kidnapping, and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.