BIBLE IN SHOT MAN’S CAR, RESIDENTS DEMAND ANSWERS

SITEKI – Over 50 angry residents of Lukhula yesterday aborted a planned march to the Siteki Police Station to demand answers regarding the shooting of Nhlanhla Kunene on Thursday night at Mpaka.

Kunene, a resident of the same area, was allegedly shot dead by police officers at Mpaka at midnight on his way to his home situated at Lukhula from his fiancée, Khangezile Bhembe, who is a Head teacher at Bhunya High School. The residents, led by businessman Mavela Sigwane, first sent their condolences to the Kunene family.

Sigwane said they were shocked as residents of the area to learn that police had allegedly shot and killed someone of Kunene’s calibre, who could not hurt a fly. Sigwane described Kunene as a humble and a Christian person. “His mother was a teacher and a number of residents in this area were taught by her. I am one of her products. I knew Nhlanhla and learning that he had been shot shocked everyone because he was someone who was not involved in shady dealings. We need answers,” Sigwane said.

He said he was awaiting the leadership of the area to set a date for the march. “We just want answers as to what prompted the police officers to shoot an innocent man. Why didn’t they arrest him?” Sigwane rhetorically asked. Phindile Mkhwanazi, a niece to the deceased, said they could not get a clear explanation as to what led to the police to open fire. Phindile said they were told by the Siteki Station Commander, Edwini Dlamini, that he was also shocked when inside the car, he found a Bible.

She said they went to the mortuary in the company of the police and they noticed that Kunene was shot above his left breast, close to the heart area. She mentioned that they were also told that he stopped his car but ran away from the police and that prompted the shooting. “My family asked why they failed to drive the car to the police station because he had stopped to show that he was not avoiding them. However, we did not get a clear explanation,” she said.

Phindile added that they were still shocked as a family as her uncle was preparing for a wedding with his fiancée, Khangezile. The relative said Kunene was preparing for a wedding with his fiancée after asking for her hand in marriage from her family last week. It could not be established if the police officers who shot Kunene dead were from Siteki or Mpaka.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the police had embarked on an intensive investigation to ascertain how the police worked on that particular night. Meanwhile, social media platform, Facebook users, yesterday blasted the police on the shooting incident. One user said he was baffled on what led to the shooting. Another user suggested that police officers needed psychological help as they were frustrated and stressed due to unattended anger issues.

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