CHAOS AFTER 2 MEN SHOT DEAD AT FUNERAL

LOMAHASHA – Chaos erupted in this small town as the youth and other members of the community blocked roads and burnt tyres while demanding justice after the murder of two young men from the area, allegedly by a police officer.

The men were allegedly shot dead by the police officer on Saturday during a funeral. The police officer, stationed at the Lomahasha Police Station, allegedly gunned down the duo at the late Peter’s Transport owner Peter Mashaba’s home situated at Lomahasha. The cop, who is popularly known as Twenty Dlamini, is alleged to have shot both men while they were seated by a fire which was outside the homestead’s gate during the night of the funeral.

Rifle

It was alleged that the police officer used a service rifle, R4, to shoot the duo. The deceased were identified as Sifiso ‘Mpostoli’ Masilela (26) and Mxolisi ‘Sigubhu’ Nyoni (28), who both hailed from Lomahasha. It was also established that the feud started at a bar around the area, where the police officer and the duo were enjoying alcoholic drinks. The alleged bone of contention which led to the death of the two was the questioning of the police officer by the duo, asking him what prompted him to shoot a young man from the area during the recent protests that were marred by looting, vandalising and burning of some business establishments. “The police officer is believed to have shot a young man who is now confined to a wheelchair during the recent political unrest. The duo asked him how he felt to have committed such an act and destroy a young man’s future. This is said to have infuriated the police officer and a brawl ensued, resulting in the two running away to another bar,” claimed a source.

The source alleged, “While at that other bar, they got wind that the police officer was in pursuit of them and they left and went to the Mashaba homestead and started a fire outside the gate. The police officer was informed that they were at the Mashaba homestead and he got there, drew his service rifle and shot them. He fired one shot at each of the men. People came and took the gun from him and he ran away.” According Jacob Mashaba, a senior family member and brother to the late Peter, the incident took place at around midnight. Jacob said he was in his car when he heard a knock on the window from a family member informing him that a police officer had allegedly shot two young men at the homestead’s gate.

Preparations

“We were making preparations to bury our young brother Joshua. There was no vigil as per the ban on such events. It was around midnight when I was informed that a police officer had gunned down two men at the gate. I tried to enquire on what prompted the police officer to do this but I was told it was a long story that started while they were enjoying drinks at a bar,” he alleged. Another family member also echoed Jacob’s sentiments, stating that she was asleep when the incident took place. “My children woke me up to the sad news while I was taking a nap. According to someone who witnessed the incident, the argument was that the police officer shot one of their friends and the two young men asked him why he did that.

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