‘Victim’ fuming as shooter is released without his knowledge

A Nellmapius man is living in fear after his alleged shooter was released on bail without his knowledge.

Amos Ntuli (49) of Nellmapius extension 24 said he narrowly escaped death when he was shot twice by a man who had followed him to his home on 11 May.

He said the suspect was known to him and was arrested the following day when he took the police to him after he was discharged from the hospital.

He believes that the suspect wanted to kill him because he was dealing with the electricity problem in the area.

The suspect shot him twice from behind, one bullet lodged in his lower back and the other in his left elbow.

Ntuli said he was not worried about his safety but feared for his family since the suspect’s release.

Ntuli is a sectional leader in extension 24 and had been assisting the community with power cuts in their area.

He said he was coming back from charging his cellphone in the evening around 19:30 when he was shot and did not have electricity at his home that day.

He said he was locking the gate when he saw the man approaching and decided to wait for him.

“When he was close enough he pulled out a gun and pointed it at his head.

“It was God’s grace I survived that night, I tried to run for cover but did not make it far before the first bullet hit me in my left elbow then the second in my back,” said Ntuli.

The suspect was arrested in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition by the Mamelodi east police the following day.

Ntuli said he and the accused recently argued about illegal electricity connections in the area.

He said they both stayed near an informal settlement.

He claimed the suspect was paid a protection fee by people who have made illegal electricity connections.

“After shooting me twice, he said nothing but slowly walked away,” he said.

“I think his people did not pay that week so he took his frustration out on me.”

Ntuli said the police were supposed to keep him updated but failed to do so and suspected foul play by the police such as accepting a bribe to release his shooter.

“We are talking about attempted murder and possession of an illegal firearm,” he explained.

Ntuli claimed that the investigating officer had yet to collect the bullet removed from his body in the hospital and the two casings he picked up from the crime scene from him yet the suspect was walking the streets of Nellmapius bragging about being released.

He said the suspect was telling his friends and the case was “a small thing”.

Police spokesperson Constable Lethabo Mashiloane said the suspect was released on bail and would appear in the Mamelodi regional court on July 14.

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