WILLEM PHUNGULA
DURBAN - THE high-ranking police officer who was shot dead on Monday night might have been the victim of a drug-related war linked to the mass killing of five men last week.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jabulani Mzwakhe Ndawonde, 57, was gunned down in a drive-by shooting at Bhamshela taxi rank near KwaMaphumulo.
Ndawonde, who was acting commander at Ndwedwe police station, was on his way home to Appelsbosch, a few kilometres away from where he was ambushed. According to police, a white mini pick-up truck overtook his car and its occupants then started shooting. He died at the scene.
A source in the area told the Daily News that his killing could be linked to the murder of five people suspected of dealing in drugs last week. She said there were people who suspected that Ndawonde knew about the killing, or might have been involved in the shooting of these men.
Another source in the police, who asked not to be named, said there were rumours that there was a drug lord in the area who was threatening to avenge the five men’s killing, and accused Ndawonde of knowing about their killing.
“We hope the Hawks get to the bottom of this. We hear there was a drug lord who was making threats against Ndawonde because he regarded Ndawonde as a threat to his business,” said the source.
Ndawonde’s sister, Zinhle Ndawonde, said the family had received a call from someone who witnessed the shooting. She said that when they arrived at the scene they found her brother dead inside the police van he had been driving.
“We are still shocked by his killing as we have no idea what the motive for this could be,” said Zinhle.
She denied any knowledge of threats to her brother’s life, and said they were unaware of the rumours that he could have been killed by drug lords.
Meanwhile, Transport and Community Safety and Liaison MEC Peggy Nkonyeni has condemned the killing and urged police to defend themselves decisively and relentlessly when faced with heavily-armed criminals.
“The threats to the lives of police members will not be tolerated and we urge police to defend themselves by all means necessary should they be under attack. The murder of a police officer, or any member of the law enforcement fraternity, is a direct attack on the state and the rule of law. Therefore, police must not die with a gun in their hands, but must defend themselves relentlessly,” said the MEC, who is expected to visit the family on Wednesday.
She said more than 10 police officers had been killed in the province.
Ndawonde joined the SAPS in 1985 and started working at Hammanskraal in Pretoria until 1988, when he returned to the province. He worked at Harburg police station near New Hanover before moving to KwaMaphumulo. He moved to Nsuze police station where he was promoted to station commander before he was moved to Ndwedwe a few years ago, where he replaced the retired station commander.
Daily News