JERICHO LEADER KILLED, LOVER CRITICAL

NHLANGANO – A 49-year-old Jericho local church leader succumbed to injuries while his fiancée is fighting for her life in hospital after they were after being attacked by a mob.

The mob accused them of being police spies.This happened at Mkhitsini on Sunday. Mkhitsini is a place under Hlatikhulu in the Shiselweni Region. It was established that more people who are related to the family were in hiding, as they were being hunted by the mob. In fact, it was gathered that the deceased, Mbholofidi Mdluli, was originally from Mashobeni, where he was a spiritual leader at Etjeni Jericho Church, but was at Mkhitsini because he was visiting his fiancée, as he would occasionally spend some time there. The genesis of the matter, according to one of the affected family members, is that the deceased reported an arson incident to the police after unknown people torched one of their houses.

Processing

The police are said to have responded, however, they entered the wrong homestead, where people were found processing dagga. It was said that the people fled the scene, leaving the dagga behind.  The police then burnt the dagga before proceeding to the Mndzebele homestead to attend to the arson case. It was said that while police were at the Mndzebele homestead, the mob came to attack the family claiming that they were police informants. It was said that police tried to reason with them that it was a case of a mistaken homestead. The mob is said to have left but returned after the police had left. The couple had gone into hiding, anticipating that the mob would return. “The couple had imbibed alcohol and were making noise while in their hiding place and, as a result, they were heard by members of the mob who dragged them back to their home,” narrated a source. The duo was said to have been assaulted by the mob and as a result, the man died in the process, while the woman was badly injured.

Alight

It was said the mob further set alight all the other houses and left. According to the family member, the police were called on Sunday, but only arrived yesterday to collect the lifeless body of Mndzebele, while the woman was rushed to hospital. Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the death of the 49-year-old man. She, however, said the police went to attend a case of arson at Mkhitsini, only to find that there was a man who had been killed. “No one had reported a case of murder. We only learnt about it upon arrival at the scene,” she said. She further said they found dagga at the Mndzebele homestead and also burnt it, which was clear indication that they were not informants as they also found themselves in the wrong side if the law. Vilakati further said no one had been arrested but police were on the ground investigating. She further advised those who felt unsafe, including Mndzebele’s wanted relatives, to call the police.

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