PROTESTORS brought Melmoth to a standstill this morning when hundreds of community members picketed peacefully at the Melmoth Magistrate’s, opposing bail for three murder suspects.
Mzameleni Ngema, Nkululeko Nxumalo and Philani Ngema were arrested for the robbery and murder of Nkazimulo Ngcobo, a pupil at the time at the iSitheku High School in the Bhonkolo area at eNdundulu near Melmoth.
The case was adjourned to 14 July while police investigators verify the addresses of the accused.
Ngcobo’s throat was slit when he was trying to protect a local allegedly assaulted by the suspects.
Last year a pensioner was also killed in eNdundulu.
This triggered an angry repsonse from the local community.
The protest march sought to highlight general issues of crime in the greater Melmoth area and the alleged slow response by local police.
Monday’s picket is a response to KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu’s call for communities to mobilise themselves and oppose bail for rape and murder suspects.
At the weekend, the Department of Community Safety and Liaison (DCSL) held a Communities-in-Dialogue programme with the community.
Head of the DCSL, Themba Mavundla, said crime was the collective responsibility of everyone.
He told the community that the DCSL has started a programme to study a number of dockets because of the concerns that most cases were thrown out in court.
It was agreed that 16 cases raised by the community would be investigated at a provincial level.
An evaluation team, led by Mavundla and the Provincial Secretary for Police Mvuyiseni Mnaqyi, would also investigate the Melmoth Police Station.
Local taverns would also be scrutinised.
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