Slain EFF MPL’s brother tells of his murder and the rape of his friend

THE net is closing in on three of the five men who were allegedly involved in the cold-blooded murder of former Gauteng EFF MPL Parks Khaiyane and the rape of his female friend two weeks ago.

Police arrested two of the men five days after the murder, on December 13. They are in custody and expected to make their next court appearance on January 4.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubele confirmed the arrests, but refused to give further details because of the sensitivity of the investigations.

It is believed that the men were found in possession of suspected stolen goods and illegal firearms during their arrest at Sicelo Informal Settlement.

The names of the accused cannot be revealed because they have not pleaded on the rape charge.

Khaiyane was among the first group of EFF members to be elected in the Gauteng provincial legislature after the 2014 national elections which the EFF contested for the first time since its formation in July 2013.

He resigned after two years apparently after expressing unhappiness with the leadership style of EFF leader Julius Malema and some of his Gauteng counterparts.

In March 2016, he wanted to raise his concerns in the Gauteng legislature, but was stopped by the legislature’s speaker, Ntombi Mekgwe.

His dissatisfaction with the party leadership grew more before the national local government elections in 2016, and soon thereafter he resigned his position in the legislature.

He joined the ANC in October, but remained an ordinary member while pursuing his business interests.

The tragedy struck after the vehicle Khaiyane and fellow occupants were travelling in experienced a mechanical problem on the R59 freeway near Meyerton in the Vaal.

Yesterday, Pule Khaiyane recounted the last moments of his younger brother’s life.

Pule said Khaiyane was heading to an ANC event at the OR Tambo International Airport when they experienced a problem with their vehicle. Pule said his brother was with his driver and a female friend.

The deceased apparently contacted two of his brothers to assist him to fix or tow the car home, but none of them was able to.

“My brother then contacted his other driver who arrived promptly,” Pule said.

According to Pule, the four were then accosted by five armed men who ordered them to lie face down on the ground.

He said witnesses informed him that one of the men fired a shot in the air, and an instruction to lie on the ground then followed.

Pule said the men demanded several items from the victims and another shot went off which apparently fatally wounded his brother.

“The guys who were with my brother then informed us that these men ordered all of them including the woman to take off their clothes. They were then ordered to walk into the bushes. One of the drivers said one of the armed men then raped the woman,” Pule said.

He said the men then fled the scene and took with them the bakkie which arrived at the scene with the second driver.

The bakkie was found abandoned the next day, on the side of the road next to Sicelo Informal Settlement.

Khaiyane was laid to rest on Sunday after a funeral service attended by EFF and ANC members.

Police investigations continue.