Durban - A survivor of a shooting incident in Mandeni, which left three people dead, is relieved that an arrest has been made in connection with the shooting.
Mduduzi Buthelezi suffered three gunshot wounds to his back during the incident in August, while his three comrades, Njabulo Dube, Sibonelo Ntuli and Ntobeko Maphumulo, were killed instantly.
Two of their comrades escaped the shooting unharmed.
The provincial police said they arrested a 27-year-old suspect who appeared in Eshowe Magistrate’s Court on Monday on three counts of murder and three others of attempted murder.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) shop stewards Buthelezi, Dube, Ntuli, Maphumulo and two other unidentified union members were in Mandeni when they were attacked by a gunman in the evening.
Provincial police on Monday said the man was arrested by the Durban Organised Crime Unit and Sundumbili detectives, after they received a tip-off that he was being detained in Eshowe prison in connection with an armed robbery case.
He was arrested on Friday.
Buthelezi said they had returned from a workshop in uMhlanga when they were attacked in the evening.
“After the workshop we decided to have a braai at a local braai venue. We then went to Ntobeko’s (Maphumulo) place, where we parked the car and stood on the roadside, next to the gate. From out of nowhere this man approached and asked to speak to Ntobeko.
“As they were chatting we were not taking notice of what was happening when gunshots rang out,” said Buthelezi.
He said the man had taken aim at Maphumulo, and then shot at the other men.
“Now that there is an arrest, I hope that we will finally know what motivated the attack. It will only be after the investigation that we will be able to point a finger to the cause or motive for the attack,” he said.
At the time, Numsa KZN regional secretary Mbuso Ngubane reportedly said the killing was politically motivated to silence union members on certain labour matters.
On Monday, Ngubane welcomed the arrests and said the slain leaders had not been forgotten.
Provincial police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, confirmed the arrest.
Daily News