Thugs shoot four, then hijack MPL and family

Two questioned after crime spree leaves two dead, two injured

ABHISHO MPL and his family were hijacked by several men fleeing the scene of a shooting near King William’s Town last weekend, where they had allegedly killed one woman and injured another.

The group are believed to have begun their crime spree earlier that evening outside a tavern in Ndevana, where they also shot two men, killing one and critically injuring another.

Democratic Alliance’s MPL Sanele Magaqa, 34, told the Daily Dispatch of how he and his family were held at gunpoint by the men, who then drove off in his silver VW Polo Vivo.

Magaqa said he was driving two family members – Luvuyo and Zuko Magaqa – to drop them off with another family member at the Zone 4 taxi rank in Zwelitsha on Saturday evening, when the assailants forced them out of the car.

“We had a funeral at home and were dropping off a few people at the taxi rank.

“While at the taxi rank, we heard three gunshots from about 500 metres away from where we were parked.

“As we tried to figure out what was going on, a group of men approached my car – one pointed a gun at me, instructing me to get out. When I got out of the car I saw there were more guys, some holding firearms, who searched us for wallets and cellphones,” said Magaqa.

Earlier that night, a group of men were seen on video footage leaving the Ndevana tavern with the two women, who were later found shot.

The vehicle was found abandoned in Dimbaza.

Magaqa said he learnt from police of the involvement of his car in the shootings later.

Captain Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed the hijacking of the DA MPL’s car, saying that it was reported by the owner.

DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga condemned the incident, calling for more police visibility in the area. He said the extent of gun possession in a rural village such as Ndevana was shocking. “The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape condemns the hijacking of DA MPL Sanele Magaqa’s car in Zone 4 of Zwelitsha over the weekend.

“This follows the senseless shooting of four people. We applaud the swiftness of the police in handling the matter but call for vigilance in the area,” said Bhanga.

● Xolisani Bleni, 27, and Siphosethu Tomas, 25, were shot dead on the night. According to police spokeswoman of the King William’s Town Cluster Captain Siphokazi – Mawisa Mzuvukile Putuma, 35, and a woman whose name has not been released, were shot and critically injured. Both are still in a critical condition in hospital.

Two males, aged 23 and 25, were taken in for questioning yesterday morning in relation to the shooting. —