VIP cops ‘had right to shoot’

Durban14102013 Security guards leave Pinetown magistrates court.left back Thulasizwe Mbanjwa and front right Sithembiso Mokoena.Picture:Marilyn Bernard

Durban14102013 Security guards leave Pinetown magistrates court.left back Thulasizwe Mbanjwa and front right Sithembiso Mokoena.Picture:Marilyn Bernard

Published Oct 15, 2013

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Durban - It was necessary to shoot. That was what the lawyer representing the mayoral bodyguards who fired at a motorist on the N3 last week said after the men were released on R5 000 bail each by the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Thulasizwe Mbanjwa and Sithembiso Mokoena, accused of attempted murder after firing at a 24-year-old motorist known only as Wynand, handed themselves over to police on Monday, relinquishing their firearms and replying in a written statement to the charges they faced.

The pair are employed as VIP bodyguards for uMgungundlovu mayor Yusuf Bhamjee, but have been suspended pending the outcome of the court case.

Sphiwe Mncwango, their lawyer, said his clients had “had the right” to fire at Wynand as they had believed Bhamjee was in danger. They had fired only warning shots, he said.

The bodyguards were trained to use guns. That neither Wynand nor his vehicle had been hit was a “clear indication they were warning shots”.

“This is being blown out of proportion. There were certain circumstances that led up to the warning shots,” Mncwango said, adding that he could not divulge particulars of the case now that it was in court. “The issue is, was it necessary or not necessary to shoot? And we are saying it was necessary to shoot.”

 

Mbanjwa and Mokoena were escorting Bhamjee to Durban when they allegedly opened fire after Wynand failed to move out from in front of their Corolla.

Wynand escaped unscathed, while the Corolla sped off to rejoin the mayor’s convoy.

Mncwango said that he’d approached police on Friday afternoon to inform them that his clients would hand themselves over on Monday, and all that “normal processes” would be followed before their court appearance.

“We gave our explanation to police. They were taken into custody and brought to court,” he said.

Mbanjwa, Mokoena and Mncwango spent nearly eight hours at the Pinetown police station with detectives on Monday, before the bodyguards were taken to court for their first appearance.

For Wynand, the arrests were a relief.

“I am glad they were arrested and will get what is coming to them. Everybody is afraid to come out (because of the risk posed by irresponsible behaviour). It only takes one person to speak up,” he said.

The motorist was quoted previously as saying that the shooting was unprovoked and that his biggest “crime” was failing to get out of their way fast enough.

The prosecutor, Vikesh Sewnath, requested time for the investigation to be completed.

The magistrate granted this, postponing the matter to November 18.

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