A miracle that I survived – Lili

Capetown-141120-Andilele Lili plays with his daughter Zingce as he was dis-charged from Tygerberg hospital-Picture by Bheki Radebe

Capetown-141120-Andilele Lili plays with his daughter Zingce as he was dis-charged from Tygerberg hospital-Picture by Bheki Radebe

Published Nov 21, 2014

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Xolani Koyana

IT was thanks to a miracle that he survived being hit by three bullets. The fourth – aimed at his heart – luckily missed its target, says Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement leader Andile Lili.

With a smile on his face and waving, Lili walked out of Tygerberg Hospital to a hero’s welcome from hundreds of his supporters yesterday.

He was discharged from hospital on his 39th birthday after spending two weeks recovering from the bullet wounds. Lili spoke for the first time about the attempt on his life on November 5.

“What happened on that day was a miracle. When I was shot, I felt really powerful. I had a powerful voice. I could still walk, I could still talk.

“Thank God that I’m still able to be here with you today,” Lili told about 500 of his supporters at the hospital.

He said that on the night of November 5, he had started his car when two men, whom he said he could point out at an identity parade, approached the vehicle pretending to be passers-by.

They stopped next to his car and one man fired two shots through the window of the driver’s side, hitting him in the abdomen, Lili said.

“I told myself that I could not die folding my arms. I must die fighting. I pushed the door open and I asked ‘ ndinenze ntoni madoda(what have I done to you gentlemen?)’.

“The last shot, they thought they would hit me in the heart, but it hit me on the (left) arm,” Lili said.

He said after firing a fourth shot, which damaged his vehicle, the gunmen fled. They are still at large.

The former ANC councillor said he managed to alert neighbours and scream to his family that he had been shot.

His brother, Mpucuko Nguzo, was at his side within minutes and drove him to hospital, Lili said.

“As he was arriving, I was losing my breath (because) of these wounds. My breathing was limited and I was trying to manage it. It was difficult.

“All I could say to him was that they must take care of my children because I didn’t think I was going to (make it).”

Lili, who had private guards while in hospital, said he did not fear for his safety and did not expect to get extra security at his home.

A day after the shooting, Ses’khona claimed some in the ANC provincial leadership may have had a hand in an attempt on Lili’s life – a claim the party rejected.

This allegation was repeated by Lili yesterday, pointing fingers at ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile.

Lili said hours before he was shot, Mjongile had told reporters he had ways of dealing with Ses’khona members, which he took as a threat.

Mjongile said Lili should stop making such “irresponsible” claims, but rather approach the police to file an affidavit.

“There was nothing untoward about the statements I made. They were in relation to a question about my own safety because of threatening SMSes (from Ses’khona leaders),” Mjongile said.

He said the ANC provincial leadership would meet to discuss the matter.

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