Mnquma Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Tunyiswa Manxila-Nkamisa, led a crime awareness imbizo, which was held at Ngunduza location in Centane, and which was aimed at finding solutions to a spate of mysterious murders in the area and surrounding villages which form Ward 25 of the local municipality.
The imbizo was held on August 25, in conjunction with the South African Police Service, the Department of Social Development, the municipality’s community services directorate and other stakeholders.
Villagers say the spate of murders started in November last year, when three women were gunned down on the same day and no one has been arrested for their murders.
“We hear rumours that these murders are connected to taxi violence in Cape Town, as some of those murdered were villagers in the taxi industry there. More than 10 people have been killed in the Ngunduza area since November last year and, in a nearby village, three women were gunned down on the same night last year when these murders started,” said local traditional leader, Chief Sibongile Dimanda.
Chief Dimanda further called for arrests of the perpetrators, saying villagers were living in fear as no arrests have been made in connection with the murders.
“We are deeply hurt by the shootings and murders of our family members and, as women, we live in fear because we are easy targets in this violence. My wish is that government can, at least, bring a satellite police station to arrest the situation,” said local villager, Nozinzile Tshangana.
She says the murders date back to five years ago but have become more frequent since late last year.
Mnquma Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Manxila-Nkamisa, said the imbizo resolved to form community policing forums (CPFs) to deal with crime in the area.
“The imbizo resolved on the strengthening and formation of CPFs, where they did not exist, which will work closely with the police in solving these unsolved murder cases.
“The ward councillor has also been tasked with inviting the National Prosecuting Authority to the area to revisit and register cases for prosecution,” Manxila-Nkamisa said.
Meanwhile, the South African Police Service in the Eastern Cape has dismissed claims of inaction regarding the spate of murders, saying five arrests have been made and their cases are currently before court.
“Five suspects, aged between 19 and 51, were arrested in 2021 and also this year.
“They appeared at the Centane Magistrate’s Court on different dates and were denied bail and are expected in court again on December 5 this year, while some suspects were in court on August 25 and 29,” said Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana.
Kinana further said investigations were ongoing.
Manxila-Nkamisa said the municipality would go back to the area after a month, to follow up on the progress made since the imbizo.
