Riddle of Marikana muti man killing

Published Mar 26, 2013

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Johannesburg - Mystery surrounds the murder of the sangoma believed to have given striking Lonmin miners muti to purportedly make it impossible for bullets to penetrate their bodies.

Alton Joja, 69, was shot several times on the upper body by unknown men who took his vehicle and left him for the dead.

The motive for his killing is not known as no words were exchanged between him and the assailants. Nothing was taken except for the vehicle, which the men later abandoned in Ndela location, about 2km from Joja’s home.

Colonel Sibongile Soci of the Eastern Cape police said five men armed with pistols and rifles entered Joja’s homestead in Bizana around 10pm on Sunday.

“He went out to enquire what they were looking for. When he approached the vehicle, the suspects started shooting towards his direction.”

Joja died on arrival at St Patrick’s Hospital in Bizana.

Police have urged residents to help find the gunmen.

Joja has been central to the Marikana massacre, where the Farlam Commission of Inquiry is investigating the killing of 44 people by both the police and miners.

Joja had allegedly given men muti to make them invincible and brave ahead of the bloody protest action last year.

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The Star

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