/ 12 May 2014

KZN man arrested for ANC volunteer’s murder

The police officer charged with the murder of a Durban Deep protester has been given bail.
The police officer charged with the murder of a Durban Deep protester has been given bail.

A man was arrested for the killing of an ANC supporter and volunteer in KwaDukuza on election day, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.

“A 28-year-old man is due to appear this morning [Monday] in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court for murder,” said Captain Thulani Zwane. “The suspect was arrested on Thursday 8 May 2014 by KwaDukuza detectives. After a swift investigation, police received information of his whereabouts and followed up the information, which led to his arrest at Lindelani.”

Zwane said the arrest was in connection with the murder of Thando Winnie Mhlongo (30) on Wednesday. She was shot dead outside a voting station in KwaDukuza.

“It is alleged that on May 7 2014, at approximately 9.30pm, Thando Mhlongo was at Lindelani, KwaDukuza when she was allegedly shot and killed by unknown suspects. The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage.”

Zwane said an initial report that the deceased was a man was incorrect.

IFP crowds
On Wednesday, when Mhlongo died, witnesses said
a police van standing guard had left when the voting finished, which was shortly before the incident took place. A crowd of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters had allegedly set off from an IFP councillor’s house singing and marching jubilantly. 

It travelled down the road and then towards the hall where the voting took place, passing the ANC marquee outside the voting station. A man who was at the marquee said the crowd, numbering “between 50 and 100” deliberated for a few minutes, then marched back singing towards the ANC marquee where a man did some kind of a spinning move before firing a shot that killed Mhlongo.

Residents say they heard one shot but discovered two chest wounds on her, as if she had been shot by a double-barrel shotgun. The crowd marched on in the direction they had come from. Several of her comrades said it was her 30th birthday. 

IFP deputy national spokesperson Joshua Mazibuko said he did not have information about the incident and that he did not have any contacts for party members in KwaDukuza. “I think the people of KwaDukuza are the only ones who can help you as far as that incident was concerned,” said Mazibuko. – Additional reporting by Kwanele Sosibo