ANGELS OF DEATH
Brotherly love evaporates after Ngcobo massacre
● It was brother against brother at Seven Angels Ministries in Ngcobo this week in the aftermath of the church shoot-out that left seven people dead.
Benjamin Mancoba, one of four surviving “angel” brothers, blamed Thandazile, one of his three brothers killed by police nine days ago.
Benjamin, who was questioned by police, said church member Siyasanga Mfazwe, who also died in the shoot-out, had hinted at his involvement in the murder of five police officers and a former soldier three days earlier.
Benjamin told the Sunday Times he had seen Thandazile with a rifle, which he believes was stolen from the police. He and his brothers labelled Thandazile a black sheep, saying he was also known as Chester, after a gangster character in the TV series Yizo Yizo.
“Siyasanga asked me: ‘What would you say if I told you that we killed those police?’ ” said Benjamin. “I laughed and said: ‘You would be very brave to do that.’ And he said: ‘We wanted to rob the bank and we could not and saw police and decided, let us start with them first.’ I was shocked.
“Then I saw Thandazile with a rifle and he asked if I wanted to hold it. I said I wanted to. I asked him where he got it and he said he thought the people who robbed the police left it there and he picked it up.
“I said: ‘You are brave to go to a place where people have died.’ I then joined the dots when the police came in and started shooting.”
Police Minister Bheki Cele told parliament this week that the Mancoba home in Nyanga Village remained a crime scene after the death of three Mancoba brothers, Mfazwe and four other congregants.
The Sunday Times visited the church two years ago when several children were rescued from church elders who said schooling was satanism.
For years church leader Banele Mancoba, 30, and his brothers convinced scores of professionals, including teachers and nurses, to quit work, donate their possessions to the church and take their children out of school.
On Wednesday, Banele told the Sunday Times the church was unshaken by the death of his three brothers and that he was destined for “bigger things”.
Six congregants were arrested this week, including Phuthumile, another of the brothers. Banele said his brother did not need a lawyer because “we do not use lawyers, we use the Holy Spirit”.
But Phuthumile asked for a lawyer when he appeared in court on Thursday. He is charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Investigators, led by the Hawks, brought handcuffed suspects to the Mancoba home on Thursday in a search for evidence.
Banele looked on, flanked by brothers Benjamin and Ephraim, who are twins. He asked his brothers: “Have you guys decided when to go [die]? Twins have to go together.” Both said they had yet to decide.
Phuthumile’s co-accused are Andani Monco, Kwanele Ndlwane, Siphosomzi Tshefu, Siphesihle Tatsi and Phumzile Mhlatywa. The six are aged between 19 and 46. They will be back in court next month.
The police officers who died in the Ngcobo attack were Warrant Officer Zuko Mbini, constables Zuko Ntsheku, Nkosiphendule Pongco, Kuhle Mateta and Sibongiseni Sandlana. The sixth victim was Mbuzeni Mpandeni, a former soldier.
This week, Pongco’s mother said her son joined the police service in 2016.
“He wanted to study further, he had big dreams,” said Nowandile Pongco.
The Ngcobo community wants the church demolished. The Rev Malusi Keto, chairman of South Africa Council of Churches in the Ngcobo region, said: “We want to save more people from being brainwashed. These are Boko Haram tendencies.”
The brothers’ mother, Noluvo Mancoba, told sister newspaper the Daily Dispatch this week that police fired “hundreds of rounds” when they arrived at the church. But Hawks spokeswoman Anelisa Feni said: “It was a shoot-out. One cop was injured. Those details will be revealed in court.”