Ex-Bay councillor jailed for murder
A former ward councillor turned tavern owner has been sentenced to 15 years in jail after he hunted down and mercilessly killed a young man he had accused of misbehaving in his establishment.
Former Ward 54 councillor Aaron Nyikilana, 52, was arrested after going on a rampage and killing Lindokhule “Docs” Marcus, 23, on January 2 2018, and then searching for his friends.
The Motherwell Regional Court found Nyikilana guilty of the murder on Monday and jailed him for 15 years.
Marcus was gunned down just metres from his home just before midday.
The murder took place after a New Year’s party at the eMaqadini tavern, which is coowned by Nyikilana and his brother.
Police said on the day of the killing, an eyewitness saw Nyikilana driving a black BMW, from which he fired three shots at three people walking in the street.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said Nyikilana had gone on the hunt for Marcus after he had allegedly caused trouble in the tavern — by dancing on the tables and causing a fight on New Year’s Eve.
During the trial, details emerged of how an enraged Nyikilana went on the warpath, shooting Marcus and then going after his friends.
The incident kicked off at about 9.30am on January 2 when Nyikilana fetched a witness who allegedly saw Marcus causing trouble at the tavern the previous evening.
The two went looking for Marcus and found him, with two friends, walking in Motherwell
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Beetge said Nyikilana initially stopped the three friends and told Marcus to get into the car. Chaos broke out when he refused.
Nyikilana opened the car door and shot at Marcus and his friends while they were fleeing.
He drove after Marcus and started shooting at him while chasing him down.
According to the police, a witness in the car said Marcus had tried to scale a fence to escape but was shot in the back.
Nyikilana kicked the fatally wounded Marcus before getting into his car and speeding off.
The tavern owner then went to one of Marcus’s friends’ houses.
When he established that the friend was not home, he told his family to inform the youngster he would also be killed. He did not, however, make good on the threat and instead handed himself over to police and surrendered his firearm, a .45 revolver, before a group of unknown people forced the tavern to close its doors.
They also torched Nyikilana’s car.
Motherwell Cluster commander Major-General Dawie Rabie hailed the conviction, saying no-one was above the law.
“This conviction is a result of great investigative work by our Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.
“The thoroughness of the investigation ensured that the murderer was jailed.”
Rabie said the specialist unit had taken over the case because of the nature of the murder and the fact that Marcus had been “hunted” down before being killed.