The Community of KwaShukela in Jozini marched to Jozini Magistrate’s Court on Monday to persuade the magistrate to detain four suspects accused of chopping a woman to death in front of her husband.
It is alleged two of the suspects are accused of hiring two hitmen to kill Ntombenhle Mabika of KwaShukela; the other two, who are related to Mabika, are accused of being masterminds behind the killing.
The four suspects appeared for the third time in Jozini Magistrate’s Court for formal bail application but this was postponed to Monday next week.
A source told the ZO that Mabika was butchered by two men using bush knives on Thursday, 21 September.
‘We know that they are not guilty until proven so, but we don’t want them in our area, we urged the court not to give them bail, but to send them to jail for life,’ he said.
The source claims Mabika was killed over a family land dispute and says about eight people from the same family have been killed, allegedly over the same land dispute.
‘It is alleged that a person who orchestrated the killing is a family member who paid the hitmen an amount of R2 500 to do the job; the money was paid through the account of the fourth suspect who is a female, a heartless mother,’ he said.
The protest was also attended by Ward 10 councillor of Jozini Local Municipality, Jabulani Mgwaba who said they are very worried about the string of killings that have occurred in the Mabika family, living in KwaShukela.
‘It is alleged that in all these killings the land dispute is the main contributing factor. I felt it was very important for me to be part of the peaceful march to court.
‘Regarding the other killing incidents, no arrest has been made, that is why the community took it upon themselves to help the police to look for the suspects shortly after the attack.
‘The two hitmen were arrested two days after the attack and the other two who are related to the deceased, were arrested later,’ said Mgwaba.
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