Suspect monitored after attack on ANC woman

The Speaker of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, Nokhaya Mjila, has died, 14 days after an alleged arson attack. Seen here is the suspect after he allegedly tried to commit suicide on his way to hospital. Photo: Soraya Crowie

The Speaker of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, Nokhaya Mjila, has died, 14 days after an alleged arson attack. Seen here is the suspect after he allegedly tried to commit suicide on his way to hospital. Photo: Soraya Crowie

Published Jun 15, 2015

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Kimberley - The senior ANC official who was the target of an alleged arson attack died in hospital 14 days after she was set alight.

This brings the death toll to four after Nokhaya Mjila’s nine-month-old granddaughter and two family members died in hospital shortly after the incident on May 30.

Mjila, 45, was the speaker of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape and was allegedly set alight by her husband during an attack at a home in Olifantshoek.

She died on Friday morning at about 6am at the Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein.

Mjila suffered extensive burn wounds during the attack that took place during the early hours of May 30. She was admitted to the hospital shortly after the incident.

Mjila’s husband allegedly doused her with petrol and set her alight while she was asleep at a relative’s house in Olifantshoek.

Mjila’s nine-month-old granddaughter and a family member, Lillian Dilodilo, died in the fire while another family member, Narshilia Dituku, died in hospital shortly after the incident.

The police are now investigating four cases of murder, one count of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and arson against Mjila’s 48-year-old husband.

The suspect, who was arrested shortly after the incident and also suffered burn wounds and a stab wound to the neck, tried to commit suicide by jumping out of an ambulance in Kimberley while being transported to the Kimberley Hospital.

He is still in hospital and is under police guard.

Mjila had been recuperating at a relative’s house in Olifantshoek after spending time in hospital when the incident happened.

According to the police, the husband arrived at the relative’s house on Friday evening, accompanied by other well-wishers to check up on his wife. He and the other visitors left at around 10pm on May 30. He then returned to the house at around 2am, entered through an unlocked door and allegedly doused his wife in petrol while she was still asleep.

Sources close to the accused on Sunday indicated that the husband had “finally snapped” after numerous incidents of apparent infidelity.

The ANC in the province has sent its condolences to the Mjila family following Nokhaya’s death.

“It is with an extreme sense of sadness that the ANC in the Northern Cape has learnt of the passing of one of our own - an activist who had the best interests of the people that she served and worked with at heart. Mjila has made an invaluable contribution, not only to the ANC in the ZFM region, but also to the ANC in the Province. Her contribution will be sorely missed,” ANC provincial secretary, Zamani Saul, said.

The MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Martha Bartlett, also offered condolences to the families of Mjila, Dilodilo and Dituku.

“We mourn the loss and offer our deepest condolences and solidarity with the families and friends of the three women.

“The Northern Cape has lost three mothers and their greatest legacy will be their wonderful children - Gail Parker and Maruping Lekwene - who are both ANC MPLs. May you find peace and comfort in knowing that your grief is shared by many. God bless the bereaved families in this difficult time,” Bartlett said.

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