DURBAN - RESIDENTS from the eNkanini community in Mayville protested outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday demanding justice for the death of Siyabonga Manqele and the release of four community members arrested by masked police last week.
This comes after the same community blocked access roads to Mayville at the weekend.
The Mercury reported allegations made by Abahlali basemjondolo (shack dwellers movement) yesterday that masked police officers arrived in the area on Friday night with vehicles that had no number plates.
Abahlali said the masked police officers arrested four community members and killed 38-year-old Siyabonga Manqele.
According to police it was alleged that on Friday, Manqele confronted police over the arrest of his girlfriend and the masked police attempted to arrest him.
Police said while attempting to flee, Manqele was shot in the back.
A community member protesting outside the court, who requested not to be named, said they are protesting because they want to know why the police killed Manqele and why the other community members were arrested.
Some members of the community speculated that the arrests were made in connection with the murder of three men in January by the community. The men were seen as a problem within the community.
“We want the police to arrest the whole community because we were all there. The community killed those three thugs who burned a person alive and raped a lot of women in the area. Manqele was not there when the community took the law into its hands, why was he killed?” asked a community member.
The community demanded justice for the death of Manqele and called for the four suspects to be released.
This is a developing story
