Murder accused trio kept in custody

SCORES of Buchanana residents picketed outside Ngwelezana Magistrate’s Court on Thursday as three suspects accused of killing taxi boss Thulani Nsele appeared in court.

Nsele (46) was shot and killed in a hail of bullets in broad daylight at Emashayineni shop on 24 May.

The three accused, Nkunzi Biyela, Ntshebe Dlamini and Tshepo Mhlongo, were expected to make their bail application, but they asked for a postponement to obtain their own legal representative.

The bail hearing was rescheduled for Monday (today).

Nsele had gone to buy bread at Emashayineni shop and after doing his shopping, he returned to his car. He was confronted by a gunman who opened fire on him without saying a word.

Nsele died at the scene.

A second suspect had been waiting near the scene for the assassin to complete his assignment. After the shooting they walked back to their Bantam bakkie getaway vehicle, and sped away.

Having heard the gunfire, police who were already in the area gave chase.

During the chase along the P700, the suspects lost control of the bakkie and it overturned. Mhlongo and Dlamini were arrested at the scene and rushed to Ngwelezana Hospital for medical attention.

They were placed under police guard and later discharged into police custody.

During the arrest, police recovered an AK47 loaded with one round of ammunition, a shotgun with six rounds of ammunition and a few rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition.

Preliminary police investigations revealed the bakkie was reported stolen at eSikhawini SAPS earlier in the month.

The third suspect - Biyela, who was driving the bakkie - managed to escape and disappeared into the bushes. He was arrested at KwaMashu Men’s Hostel in Durban on 30 May. All three suspects face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of illegal firearm and ammunition, and possession of stolen property.

The deceased's sister, Nozipho Nsele said the death of her brother has left them with many unanswered questions.

‘He left home to buy bread. We do not know why he was killed. We are here to show the court that the community is angry about this evil deed.

'The suspects must stay in court until they are convicted and sentenced. The community does not need them back in the area,’ she said. *Open your PixzAR app and scan the framed image to see the protest action outside court