Families seek answers after double murder at eMbalenhle tavern

Families of two young men who were shot dead at a tavern in Ext 15, eMbalenhle, on New Year’s Day say they are still struggling to understand what led to the brutal killings of their loved ones.

Siyabonga Nhlapho (25) and Ratile Motloung (24) were among patrons at the tavern on January 1 when an armed man entered the premises and gunned down the two men before fleeing the scene.

Following the shooting, community members, together with the DA Mading Security Company, pursued a suspect based on information about his whereabouts. The search stretched as far as Ext 22, eMbalenhle.

According to DA Mading Security, the team received information that the suspect had briefly stopped at a tavern at Gate 7 in Ext 22, where he allegedly bought alcohol before leaving.

“It was impressive to see the collaboration between the community, private security, and the police in searching for the suspect, who was later arrested while trying to evade arrest. Efforts like these are necessary if we want to win the fight against crime,” said DA Mading Security Company director, Stolen Khanye.

Siyabonga’s mother, Zanele Nhlapho, told Ridge Times that although her son has been laid to rest and the suspected shooter is behind bars, the pain remains unbearable.

“From the day of the incident, it has been difficult to sleep, especially after I was shown video footage of how my son was murdered at that tavern,” she said.

Nhlapho described Siyabonga as her only son, followed by three daughters, and said the family had high hopes for his future.

“He was not violent or problematic in the community. He was always smiling and would speak up if something was not right.

“On the day he was murdered, I last saw him with friends who are also our neighbours. I was shocked later that night when I was told he had been shot at the tavern in Ext 15,” she said.

Nhlapho questioned why the conflict, if any existed, was not addressed between families instead of ending in violence.

“If they were wronged, why didn’t they come to us as families? The way my son was shot repeatedly in that video looks like something from an action movie,” said Nhlapho.

Although the man suspected of the double murder is in custody, she said the family still wants answers as to what her son did to deserve such brutality.

Ratile Motloung’s grandmother, Sonto Maseko, said the family welcomed the New Year with devastating loss.

“We were relieved that Christmas and New Year’s Eve had passed without any tragedy. But on the first day of the year, while preparing to sleep, we heard a knock at the door where a young man from the neighbourhood arrived with a taxi and asked us to accompany him to the tavern.

“He told us Ratile had been shot. When we arrived, we saw two bodies on the ground. We identified Ratile by the clothes he was wearing when he left home.

“Earlier that day, we were still sharing a meal togher as a family,” said Maseko.

She described Ratile as humble, respectful and ambitious.

“We want the truth about what happened before the suspect shot and killed them,” said Maseko, adding that the family welcomed the suspect’s decision to abandon his bail application.

Musonwabo Skweza (35) was arrested on January 3 between Leandra and Devon during a joint operation involving Crime Intelligence, Embalenhle Detective Services, Visible Policing, the Secunda Flying Squad and Kinross SAPS. He was charged with two counts of murder.

The police reported that he had likely hitchhiked towards Gauteng and was arrested while travelling in a private vehicle.
During his arrest, police recovered a firearm with a filed-off serial number, ammunition and two magazines.

Police believe the firearm may have been used in the double murder and confirmed that it will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether it was used in crimes, including the eMbalenhle tavern shooting.

Skweza abandoned his bail application when he appeared before the Evander Magistrate’s Court on January 12. His case was postponed to February 27.

Siyabonga Nhlapho was laid to rest on January 7, while Ratile Motloung was buried on January 11, both in eMbalenhle.

Video footage:
Ridge Times is in possession of video footage of the tavern shooting showing how Siyabonga Nhlapho died. The video begins with three men having a conversation on the left side of the screen.

A man in a white hoodie enters the door of the tavern on the right of the screen and pulls out a gun as he approaches the trio. He focuses on the man in the chair (Nhlapho) who jumps up.

The gunman shoots Nhlapho three times and then, as an afterthought, shoots him again. The shooter then disappears from the screen, presumably making his way to another part of the tavern where Ratile Motloung was gunned down.

The gunman then appears on the screen and shoots Nhlapho again before disappearing from view again. He can eventually be seen leaving the tavern on foot.

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