Durban - The attack and looting of property belonging to a man suspected of sheltering a Pongola priest accused of killing and dismembering a 4-year-old boy has been condemned by Community Safety MEC Willies Mchunu.
Mchunu’s call comes in the wake of an arson attack on the house believed to have been the hideout of a local priest who was once a suspect in the murder of Lungisani Ntuli.
Lungisani’s head, one arm and his legs, which had been cut into pieces at the joints, were found in a shopping bag on the floor of a back room on the premises of the pastor’s church.
The child’s torso and other arm have still not been found.
The community of Ncotshane in Jozini near Pongola were angry and apparently on a mission to torment the pastor and those associated with him.
After Lungisani’s body was found at the church, mobs had burnt the church to the ground and set fire to the home and tuck shop belonging to a woman they accused of witchcraft and where unidentified bones were later found.
Mchunu urged the community of Jozini, in northern KZN, not to take the law into their own hands but to work with police to ensure those responsible for the murder were brought to book.
“However, at the weekend (of September 20-21) a house believed by the locals to have been a hideout of the priest was set on fire by the angry members of the community,” said Mchunu.
The Daily News learnt on Wednesday that the community of Ezinkunini, which falls under the Jozini police area, had attacked the homeowner and set his possessions on fire on September 20.
He said they had mobilised and attacked the house, accusing the owner of keeping a “dangerous” person.
“The mob surrounded the house… with intent to catch and trial him for keeping the unwanted person.
“(The owner) sustained some injuries when he was trying to escape the attack,” said the source.
“The mob started vandalising the victim’s assets by damaging them with stones.
“They damaged two vehicles, the house as well as the tuck shop. It is said that before they set the tuck shop alight… they stole some groceries.
“The vehicles and the house were also set alight. (The owner) managed to escape and was rushed to Ubumbo Hospital where he was treated for some head injuries.”
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said a case of attempted murder was being investigated.
“Two suspects aged 21 and 44 were arrested and appeared in the uBombo Magistrate’s Court on September 22.
“The case was withdrawn at court due to insufficient evidence,” said Naicker.
The pastor is apparently still in hiding, fearing for his life.
In July, despite his case being withdrawn due to insufficient evidence, he was kidnapped while travelling from Vryheid to Pongola.
Naicker said he was taken to another vehicle, where he was given something to drink. He then blacked out. Police found him the following day in the boot of his vehicle.
Naicker said a case of kidnapping and robbery had been lodged in connection with that matter, but no arrests had yet been made.
Daily News