Teen drives unharmed through hail of bullets
An Eastern Cape teen is thanking God and his ancestors for his life after being ambushed by gunmen who pumped bullets into the vehicle he was driving on Friday.
The home of a senior Mthatha prosecutor was also hit, apparently by stray bullets.
Police found R5 assault rifle cartridges on the scene at Xongora village near Mthatha.
Family of Adudume Mtirara, 19, believe the target was his older brother Nkosi Avelile Sakhisizwe Mtirara, who heads the Xongora Traditional Council.
“These people wanted nothing but to kill. The shooting took a couple of minutes. The vehicle has bullet holes all over including the windscreen and windows,” said Mtirara.
Avelile had driven the car the whole day. Only minutes before the shooting, his brother drove off in the grey Polo Vivo.
Avelile had been visiting relatives whose son, Mlungisi Ma- tete, 35, was shot in his car on the Xongora road where it joins the R61 on January 29. He was buried on Saturday.
Matete’s father, Jibilikile Matete, said: “We live in fear. [Police minister] Bheki Cele must assist. His police officers must arrest the killers of my son.”
Cele, speaking at the funeral of O R Tambo mayor Nomakhosazana Meth’s two sons last month, said Xongora and neighbouring village Bhityi were hotspots for stocktheft and murder.
On the advice of his family and traditional councillors and advisers, Avelile Mtirara is now in hiding.
Adudume said: “Bullets flew in all directions . . . God is great, it was His miracle that I am still alive to tell the story.
“When I saw the number of bullets in the vehicle I just collapsed and cried.”
Mthatha cluster chief prosecutor Vuyani Genu said he was asleep inside his home when the stray bullets hit, breaking windows and damaging walls, doors and furniture. He has opened a case with the police.
Police spokesperson Captain Nozuko Handile appealed to people to help track down the suspects.