Durban – KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Sipho Hlomuka, has called on the police to quickly arrest those responsible for killing Community Policing Forum (CPF) board chairperson, Prince Mathenjwa, on Thursday evening.
The MEC has since described the Mthunzi death as “disheartening”.
Hlomuka said Mathenjwa was killed in his home, outside eNiwe area in Empangeni after confronting a suspicious vehicle outside his house.
“The suspects then opened fire, leaving him dead on the scene. Mathenjwa was also a former ward councillor in the area and a political activist.”
Hlomuka said his killing has sent shock waves in the community of King Cetshwayo District as he was known as a “peacemaker” and a “protector” of the vulnerable community.
Mathenjwa was elected to the position of Provincial chairperson in 2017 after demonstrating a passion for crime fighting while working in the King Cetshwayo CPF.
Hlomuka said Mthunzi’s death has left a serious void and is a major setback in crime fighting and condemned the killing, calling out to the police enforcement to find the suspects involved.
“Those who commit heinous crimes have no place in our communities. We value the contribution made by Mathenjwa and many other crime-fighting volunteers.
“The Community Policing Forum is central in the mobilization of communities to actively fight against crime.
“We urge community crime-fighting structures not to be deterred by the painful incident, but instead to solder on and wage the war against criminals.
“As a government, we commit to working with all community crime-fighting organizations in our quest to make KwaZulu-Natal a safer province.
“We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Mathenjwa family (his wife, children and extended family) and all CFP members in the province,” said Hlomuka.
Provincial police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said a case of murder was reported at Empangeni SAPS and the matter was under investigation.
“On Thursday, 11 August 2022 at about 19:20 a male aged 58 years was at his house when he noticed men loitering around his gate.
‘’After some time he called his son to back him as he went out to investigate. When approaching them, they fatally shot and killed him,“ said Ngcobo.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE