The recent killing of a sports writer at a high- profile function left the black journalistic community reeling. What happened, and why?
Angella Johnson reports
When sports writer Sipho Mthembu calmly walked into Brixton Murder and Robbery police station to hand himself over in connection with the death of fellow journalist Sibusiso Mabaso, few people had any idea of what caused the public shooting.
Behind the killing, which left the black journalistic community reeling, was a tale of friendship turned sour. A tragic story of two men once as close as brothers, but who became victims of a society where personal disagreements are too often settled at the point of a gun.
Mabaso (34) was killed on August 3 while attending a high-profile party at the Karos Hotel in Hillbrow, to celebrate the crowning of the Miss Soweto beauty queen.
It was his third day in a new job as a volunteer reporter on the news team of Soweto Community Radio, and he was enjoying himself mingling with some 300 celebrity revellers.
Also enjoying the party was Mthembu. The two had once worked together on the Sowetan newspaper, but were now at loggerheads. As they faced each other, angry words were exchanged before Mthembu left the hotel temporarily.
Soon afterwards several shots rang out in the crowded reception area and Mabaso slumped to the ground. His assailant was heard to shout: ”I told you I’d get you … I’ve got you now.”
A number of guests and paramedics tried to revive Mabaso, but he died while being rushed to hospital.
Within hours Mthembu, who still worked on the Sowetan as a writer specialising in athletics, had presented himself to the police at Hillbrow station. He was told no docket existed on the shooting and it was suggested that he return the next day.
According to friends, Mthembu was frustrated about police inaction over a charge of abduction and assault he had made against Mabaso earlier this year. He was also in fear of his life after Mabaso had threatened to kill him.
The seeds of this ”brotherly” feud were sown earlier this year after Mabaso resigned from the Sowetan in the wake of a bitter dispute with the editor over his lengthy absence from work.
He had returned to the paper after a 10-year absence, but was apparently disgruntled over his low salary and what he considered was a lack of appreciation of his talents.
Not long after leaving the paper Mabaso was seen driving a smart car, wearing expensive clothes and in possession of an array of expensive electrical equipment.
”He had a good hi-fi system, television, video and jewellery,” said a friend who did not want to be identified. ”No one knew where they came from, but it was widely believed that he was involved in the criminal underworld. He was never short of money anymore.”
Eventually Mabaso was arrested by the police and charged with armed robbery. While he was in custody he turned to his friend Mthembu, asking him to look after his possessions at his new house in Naledi Extension, Soweto. Friends say Mthembu also paid his bail.
But on his release from jail Mabaso discovered that his home had been burgled and all his precious goods, worth thousands of rand, had been stolen. He blamed Mthembu, who denied any involvement, but Mabaso was not convinced. He seethed over the matter for a while before planning his revenge.
According to colleagues, he hired a gang of youths to abduct Mthembu from his home in Soweto one Saturday in April. They tortured the hapless victim with lit cigarettes, whipped him with electrical cable, beat him up and immersed him in a bath full of hot water.
He was then taken to a cemetery and told he would be shot unless he confessed his involvement in the robbery. The gang was only prevented from carrying out its threat when a passing group of youths heard a shot being fired and rushed to the scene.
Mthembu spent four days in hospital, after which he laid abduction charges against his friend. But the matter did not end there. Despite being questioned by the police, Mabaso was never charged and the matter was eventually dropped.
Meanwhile Mabaso, who spent three years on Robben Island for his political activities, allegedly continued to threaten Mthembu that he would ”finish the job”. It was known that he carried a gun.
A close friend of both men, who still works on the Sowetan, said: ”The shooting could have taken place in a dark alley, but I think the person was trying to make a statement. He wanted to show that he had lost confidence in the law and could not rely on it for his protection.”
Mthembu, who is out on R2 000 bail, is expected to appear in court on October 17.