BETHAL – A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the “hit”-style murder of Mr Nathi Ngcongo (30) at the Sam Holdings Truck Depot in Stasieweg in Bethal on Thursday, 12 September.
Mr Ngcongo, who was the general manager of the company, was gunned down at about 6pm that night.
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/145453/breaking-news-worker-gunned-sam-holdings-bethal/
He was shot at least three times – twice in the chest and once in the head. The Bethal EMS declared him dead on the scene.
The police received a tip-off about the alleged shooter. They caught the suspect, Phindokuhle Nkosi, in the early hours of Friday, 13 September, hiding out in a house in Mamelodi, Tswane.
Mr Nkosi appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court the same day and the case was postponed to Thursday, 19 September.
Capt Dineo Segothodi, spokesman for the Mpumalanga Hawks, confirmed that this elite squad has taken over the murder investigation as it might be connected to their investigation into Mr Sambulo Bruce Chabalala (Sam), the owner of Sam Holdings.
Mr Chabalala, or Mshengu as he is affectionately called by his friends and family, was arrested on 6 September and faces charges of Contravention of the Immigration Act, fraud, corruption, bribery and being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The Hawks arrested Mr Chabalala at a restaurant in the Highveld Mall in eMalahleni after he allegedly paid a bribe of R40 000 to a home affairs official to shut down an investigation of his citizenship. He allegedly wanted reports of a fraudulently obtained South African identity document destroyed.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit found an unlicensed firearm in his vehicle, a green Mercedes-Benz.
The Mpumalanga logistics tycoon made a show of his wealth when he travelled in a convoy of more than 70 luxury cars to the Durban July this year. He owns at least 10 of these vehicles.
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/145581/breaking-news-man-custody-murder-bethal/
He claimed in numerous media interviews that he was born in Makwarela, Venda, his soldier-dad was killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that he had to leave school at the age of 11.
Mr Chabalala registered his company, Sam Holdings Trading, in 2014 and used his employer’s trucks to head up his business.
He recently boasted that he now owns more than 50 trucks.
Mr Chabalala’s age is also being questioned. In ID documents in the Hawks’ possession, he was aged 23, 25 and 27.
After his arrest, he was also taken ill, but was allegedly caught in possession of a laptop while in hospital.
Mr Chabalala was released on bail of R200 000 on Monday, 16 September. He must again appear in court on 22 November.
