A RICHARDS Bay Minerals (RBM) spokesperson said there is no link between the brutal slaying of its Human Resources General Manager Ronny Nzimande last Tuesday and the confirmed suspension of five top level employees just days before his murder.
The spokesperson on Friday confirmed the mining company had temporarily suspended five employees ‘pending further investigations into compliance with our code of conduct’, but declined to identify the officials involved or the departments they served in.
However, a reliable source told the Zululand Observer that a senior official (name withheld), two managers and two superintendents in two departments were suspended on Thursday, 25 August.
Also read: Mine manager assassinated in driveway
It is believed the suspensions could be related to alleged irregularities of a major tender for the transportation of titanium ore mined at RBM.
‘The investigation remains ongoing and will continue until all lines of inquiry are completed,’ the RBM spokesperson said.
‘It is important that we respect the process and do not make any judgements until all investigations have been concluded.
‘Should any breaches be found, they will be treated seriously and addressed in a transparent, consistent and respectful way.’
The spokesperson emphasised that there was at this stage no evidence of any link between Nzimande’s death and the suspensions, and that ‘investigations were centered around internal processes unrelated to community unrest’.
Killed in cold blood
Unknown gunmen opened fire on Nzimande inside his car in the driveway of his Richards Bay home just after 9pm as he returned from a RBM board dinner at the Blue Marlin Guest House.
Nzimande initially survived a hail of at least 20 AK47 and 9mm pistol rounds, some tearing into his face, chest and arms, but he died during an emergency operation at Netcare The Bay Hospital later that night.
Richards Bay SAPS spokesperson Captain Debbie Ferreira urged anyone with information surrounding Nzimande’s case to come forward.
They can contact the investigating officer, Colonel Z Sosibo, on 082 772 6463.
Mysterious deaths
RBM refused to comment on reports of the discovery of two bodies on a road close to the mine in the early hours of Sunday morning, 11 August.
Police confirmed that Ndodo Mabika (36) was shot in the back four times and that Thokozani Mabika (32), reportedly a member of the KwaMbonambi Youth Committee, was shot in the head four times.
According to reports, the KwaMbonambi Serious Crimes Unit is investigating the assassinations and threatening letters found next to the bodies, which read that the killers were tired of roadblocks in the area and the ANC.
Police sources said the pair were also shot with an AK47, as at least five empty cartridges and a live round was found at the scene.
The discovery of the bodies followed violent protests by the Mzingazi community, who blocked the road to RBM for most of Wednesday, 7 August.
‘The General Manager of Corporate Communications and Communities, Fundi Dlamini accompanied the sheriff in an attempt to serve a court interdict on the protesters that day,’ said an RBM insider who spoke on condition of anonymity.
‘But the protestors grew irate and were screaming for RBM to fire her and her manager.’
Dlamini on Saturday did not return calls from the ZO and also ignored SMS messages sent requesting her comment.
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