Former EL cop shot dead during robbery at his home
Jongile was with his family when five suspects stormed his house and shot him twice before making off with laptops, his firearm, three bicycles and four cellphones
An evening at home took a tragic turn for an East London family who watched as former Umkhonto we Sizwe and retired Eastern Cape policeman Brig Joseph Jongile was gunned down on Friday — inside his Baysville residence.
Jongile, a former Umkhonto we Sizwe soldier, was with his family when five suspects stormed his house and shot him twice before making off with an undisclosed number of laptops, his firearm, three bicycles and four cellphones.
Jongile was the head of the provincial police operational response services division when he retired in 2014.
Eastern Cape hawks spokesperson Capt Yolisa Mgolodela confirmed the killing. He said the Hawks were investigating a case of murder and house robbery.
She said the gunmen were still at large.
According to a policeman, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media, five suspects knocked at the door to a back room where Jongile’s son was sleeping.
“They pointed a firearm at him and instructed him to go and knock at the main house and control the dog, and he did. He knocked at the kitchen, the victim’s wife opened the door and she met three suspects while the other two waited outside.”
The source said the family were threatened with firearm and the wife shouted for help.
“As [Jongile] was approaching, one suspect advanced and the struggle started. [Jongile] was shot twice and fell. The other occupants were tied up with electric cables and their cellphones taken. The suspects then searched the house and took three bicycles and fled the scene.”
In an interview on Sunday morning, Jongile’s friend and family spokesperson, Pumzile Mayapi, said the family had been at home “relaxing as they usually did on weekends” when the armed men walked into the house. “Seconds later, two shots were fired, killing Jongile on the spot.”
Mayapi said the former policeman’s family was in mourning. “The criminals tied his son and wife up in separate rooms and robbed the family of their belongings as well. This came as a huge shock to everyone who knew Joe.
“We know the police are still processing and investigating what happened on Friday night, and we do not know the reasons for his murder.”
He described Jongile as a sports fan, and political activist. “I have known Joe since our days in 1974 in Mthatha. He was a keen sportsman. He was good at rugby and boxing and also had a passion for cycling.
“We parted ways and met again in the early 80s when we were starting to be politically conscious and linked with the ANC underground forces.
“We were part of the youth movement and skipped the country to join the ANC outside the country, and that was the route towards military training. We underwent the training under Umkhonto Wesizwe in Angola in 1981.”
After his return from exile in 1984, Jongile was arrested and spent two years in prison, Mayapi said.
“Post the military activities. Joe was active in the construction of the legal structures of the ANC from 1990. But in 1995 he joined SAPS and served the police as a brigadier until his retirement in 2014.”
Mayapi said Jongile had also established himself as a farmer after he bought a farm in Chintsa. “He was a jolly person, with a heart of gold. He was a man with a warm personality and opened his house to everyone. He did not have to know a person to be compassionate towards them.”
Jongile leaves his wife and three children.