DURBAN - A woman was found dead in her home in C-section, KwaDabeka, on Monday. She had been due to give evidence against two police officers accused of brutality.
Lungi Ncobela, 42, and her daughter, Nontobeko Vezi, 13, were found lying on Ncobela’s bed with a single gunshot wound to each of their bodies.
Ncobela’s friend, who declined to be named, said she received a phone call from a neighbour early yesterday morning.
“The woman said I needed to come to Lungi’s house. I asked her what was going on and she said they heard gunshots coming from a nearby house just after midnight and were not sure of the details.
“When I got to Lungi’s house, the door was open. I shouted for her but no one answered.”
The friend said she walked through the house and found Ncobela and Nontobeko lying on the bed.
“I started screaming and the neighbours rushed inside. Someone called the police and they arrived a short while later.”
Days before her death, Ncobela and a handful of witnesses had filled out their statements with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) after two officers allegedly set their dogs on two men.
It is believed that last month the officers were conducting patrols when they came across a friend of Ncobela’s, Mthoko Mchunu, and another man seated in a car.
Mchunu said the officers made him and his friend get out of the car so they could search them.
“While searching us, one of the officers said I looked like the man who hijacked his sister’s car. Despite me telling them that I did not know what they were talking about, they took us to an isolated area between Reservoir Hills and Westville and set their dogs on us.
“The attack went on for hours and these officers demanded money from us, telling our family if they did not give them the money by 5am, they could use the same money to prepare for our funeral,” Mchunu claimed.
Ncobela then managed to arrange the money and paid it into two accounts that were supplied by the officers.
The officers allegedly gave Mchunu and his friend a gun to hold so their fingerprints would be on it and the pair were arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Mchunu said the firearm was not theirs.
They then opened a counter-charge against the police officers at the KwaDabeka police station. The matter was handed over to Ipid for further investigation.
Moses Dlamini, Ipid spokesperson, confirmed that the watchdog was following up on the matter.
According to a well-placed source, the officers were informed of Mchunu’s counter-charge and went to his house where they made him lie on the floor and warned him that if he did not rescind the charge, they would kill him. Officers allegedly pointed a gun at him while making the threat.
Undeterred, Mchunu then reported the incident of intimidation at KwaDabeka police station. The case number of the intimidation case and a copy of the report were supplied to the Daily News. However, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, provincial police spokesperson, said the number was invalid.
Ncobela’s death sent shockwaves through the community with other witnesses now fearing for their lives.
Mchunu said after his attack, he could not stay at home because he was living in fear. He has since left KwaZulu-Natal.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane, police spokesperson, said the motive behind Ncobela and Nontobeko’s murders was unknown.
“KwaDabeka police are investigating two counts of murder and no arrests have been made. We appeal to anyone with information to contact KwaDabeka police on 0317119900 or crime stop on 0860010111,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dlamini said an investigation was under way to determine the facts of the latest shooting.
“Everything will be done to ensure that those responsible are brought to book,” he said.