Durban - Sergeant Vusumuzi Moyana woke up on Tuesday feeling like he was coming down with flu. But as a dedicated policeman he insisted on going to work.
“I would rather die in the line of fire than book off sick,” he joked with his wife. But that joke became reality when Moyana became the latest policeman to die in the line of duty.
It now emerges that Moyana and his colleague Sergeant Jabu Jojisa (both from Inanda police station) were lured into an ambush at the Namibia informal settlement. They were disarmed, stripped to their underwear, bundled into the back of a police van and then shot, execution style. Moyana died, while Jojisa is recovering at Umhlanga Hospital.
Three men arrested for the attack, appeared in court on Friday. They were denied bail. They are Sabelo Mkhize, 26, Siboniso Khubisa, 19, and Lindokuhle Mchunu, 18.
Police are investigating the possibility that the motive for the attack was to get hold of police uniforms and guns. Two sources, independent of each other, have confirmed this. National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega also alluded to this.
Phiyega said more than 60 officers had been killed so far this year.
It is believed one of the suspects went to the police last week for help in recovering R300 he claimed his neighbour borrowed from him but never returned.
On Tuesday he was waiting at the station when Moyana, 38, and Jojisa, 34, were dispatched with two women to deliver peace orders on their behalf. Since it was in the same area (Namibia informal settlement) they took the suspect with them.
The two women and the suspect sat at the back of the police van. They delivered the first peace order and one of the women got out of the vehicle. The other woman then noticed the suspect sending a text message. The police believe he did so to alert the other two accused that they were approaching.
When they arrived at the house, the suspect jumped out of the police van while the other accused attacked the police. They took their weapons and uniforms. They then bundled the two into the back of the van and drove them a short distance to an open field.
They shot both officers “execution style” while they were in the back of the police van. It is believed they tried to set the vehicle alight but failed.
The police were alerted to what had happened by the other woman who managed to escape from the van while the two sergeants were being attacked.
On Wednesday the police received a tip-off that the men were in Mpola near Mariannhill, and arrested them.
They first appeared in Pinetown Magistrate’s Court before they were transferred to Ntuzuma Regional Court under heavy police guard. They face charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of a prohibited firearm (an AK47).
In court it emerged that Mkhize and Mchunu were out on bail for a murder earlier this year.
Meanwhile Moyana’s wife of two years, Lihle, is struggling to come to terms with his death. The couple lived in Ntuzuma.
She regrets not having stopped him from going to work when he complained he was not feeling well.
His argument was that he needed to fulfil his duties protecting the community from crime. She eventually gave in and watched as he drove out of the yard. It was the last time she saw him alive.
“I begged my husband to stay at home because he had flu but he did not listen to me. He was dedicated to his job. In 11 years he never missed a shift. Recalling his last words on that day brings me sadness and pain. I cannot believe he is dead. He was such a loving husband and father,” she said.
She added that her four children, who live in the family home in Mandeni, had learned about the tragedy while watching the news on television.
When her 15-year-old son called to find out what had happened to his father she broke down.
“I could not deal with the emotion. My husband was everything to us. When I saw his face at the mortuary I cried hysterically thinking about the good times we shared together.”
Jojisa of KwaMashu, remains in hospital. A family member said they were praying she would recover.
Moyana will be buried on Saturday in Mandeni.
On Wednesday KZN Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni visited the deceased’s family. She told them how dedicated Moyana was.
Afterwards she went to the house which had been occupied by the suspects and expressed shock at the stolen items, including a flat screen television and brand new double bed still covered in plastic, found inside.
“We hope that these arrests bring relief to the grieving families of our police officers,” Ngobeni said.
Sunday Tribune