Some community members from eMzinoni were picketing outside Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, November 1, demanding that seven men who might be involved in the deaths of three people must not get bail.
Sgt Cynthia Mtsweni, spokesperson for eMzinoni Police, said the arrested men are allegedly part of a group that was terrorising the community and liquor traders.
This group was allegedly beating up people on the streets of eMzinoni and also entered shebeens, taverns and nightclubs with weapons, such as pangas and guns.
It is alleged that whenever they arrived at a liquor outlet, they would assault patrons and then forcefully remove them before demanding money and liquor from the tavern owner.
According to police information, the group moved in on a liquor outlet on Saturday, November 23, and began beating the people inside.
Gunshots were fired and one man died on the spot while another one was rushed to hospital where he later died.
“We are appealing to anyone with information to come to the police station to tell us has happened.
“No one has yet come to open a case. We arrested these seven men on the crime scene at Ext 15 after we received information that men armed with guns and other weapons were terrorising the community,” said Sgt Mtsweni.
She said the police are still looking for other suspects involved in these murders and who are still at large.
According to Sgt Mtsweni, one of the men who died at the hospital was allegedly a notorious gang leader and the most feared criminal in eMzinoni.
It is also alleged that these gangsters had stabbed a man to death at another tavern on Saturday before the shooting incident happened.
The seven men are facing three charges of murder, as well as hijacking and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm charges.
“I cannot forget what these criminals did to us while we were relaxing in one of the taverns in Mzinoni, we were beaten up and threatened with death,” said Mr Vusi Mvundla.
He was one of the picketers in front of the court on Wednesday.
“We were drinking and dancing when a group of men armed with pangas came in, shouting at us to go out.
“We were running to the door, but they began to assault us,” said Mr Mvundla.
“I even lose my cellphone because of them. That is why I’m here to show the court that we don’t want them to be released on bail.
“All of us picketing here were their victims,” said Mr Mvundla.
The case was postponed to Thursday, December 9, for bail application.
