TUESDAY, 3.30PM
POLICE early on Tuesday arrested National Consultative Forum leader Sifiso Nkabinde and 17 of his supporters in connection with violence in the Richmond area in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands over the past few months.
Nkabinde was arrested when a 500-strong contingent of police and soldiers raided his home in Mogoda near Richmond at dawn. Nkabinde was taken straight to Pietermaritzburg, where he appeared briefly in court. No charges were put to him and the case was postponed to Wednesday for a bail hearing. He faces 18 charges of murder related to five incidents dating back to 1984 in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
Police arrested 17 other suspects who are being questioned in connection with recent violence in the Richmond area. These include Bisi Mlungisi Nzimande, 22, wanted for the murder of Maweni Mchunu, who was shot dead in the area last month. Police spokesman Director Reg Crewe said two of those arrested have been positively linked to recent murders in the area. However, three of the most wanted men in the area escaped arrest.
Crewe appealed to the local community to assist police investigators track down Skumbuzo Patrick Ndlovu, known in the area as “Bob”. A reward of R200 000 has been offered for his arrest for numerous acts of violence in the Richmond area. He is considered one of the most dangerous men in the country. Rewards of R100 000 are also being offered for the arrest of Sorren Njilo and Mothoko Ndlovu. Crewe said investigations are continuing and more arrests are possible.
The arrests have drawn widespread praise from political parties.
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