Fear of hit list after inkosi’s shock death in drive-by shooting

THE drive-by shooting in which an inkosi from Mandeni was murdered, happened so quickly people at the scene did not see the perpetrators.

iNkosi Linda Sono Mathonsi, 57, was shot dead in his car shortly after 5pm on Monday. His daughter Nonkululeko (‘Popo’)‚ 28, was shot in the arm, but survived and is recovering in hospital.

Police yesterday announced the establishment of a special task team to work on the case. It coincided with a visit to the area by Hawks head General Berning Ntlemeza. He stopped at the Sundumbili Police Station for a briefing, before visiting the inkosi’s family, who live about 2km away.

Mathonsi was fetching his daughter from the library, and had drawn up on the side of the road outside the Work and Pray Computer Centre, directly across from the library.

Mandeni businessman Bhekuyise Mthembu was at the computer shop, which is also an internet café. The proprietor of the shop, Lawrence Zungu, told him that iNkosi Mathonsi was hooting for his attention, and wanted Mthembu to come out to see him at the car.

“There was nothing strange about that, it happens like that all the time. I’m a friend of the family. They see my car parked outside the computer shop, and call me out to talk to me,” Mthembu said yesterday.

“I walked over to the car and told them I couldn’t talk, as I was busy sending an e-mail to my lawyer, but that I would pop around to their house later.

“I turned around to walk back to the shop, and then I heard the sound of gunfire. I got such a fright, I ran into the shop. Other bystanders were running for cover, too.

“I didn’t see the car, I didn’t see the gunman.

“Then, a bit later, I was told that the inkosi had died. I was so shocked I couldn’t drive home. My wife had to fetch me.”

Proprietor Zungu said he, also, had not seen anything that could provide any clues.

“I was busy with customers, then we heard the shots, I can’t say how many but quite a few.

“I ran outside. I saw Popo standing next to the car, on the passenger side, crying. She said her father had been shot.”

I ran back into the shop and called the police.

Mathonsi’s brother Bhekisisa, 54, said at the family homestead yesterday that the family was shocked and now fearful about their safety.

“We don’t know if there is a hit list, we don’t know who will be next,” he said.

He had seen his brother only the day before, when they met to plan a family trip.

“We can’t think of any reason why anyone would kill him. He was a peaceful, humble family man.

“We don’t know of any enemies that he had. There are some people causing trouble in the community, but that is all.”

Mandeni has been a hotbed of conflict for some time. Factories were burnt down in the run-up to the election during protests against the ANC candidates list, and the inkosi was allegedly also involved in a court case over a land dispute.

According to police, Mathonsi had been shot in the head and neck with a 9mm firearm.

His funeral has been arranged for December 17.