A police officer has been hospitalised following a shooting outside the home of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's lawyer.
The incident took place on Saturday night outside the home of well known Mthatha lawyer Mvuzo Notyesi, who made a name for himself after Madikizela-Mandela hired him to represent her in her court bid to claim the Qunu home of her ex-husband, the late former president Nelson Mandela.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed that the police officer, Mzekelo Thiwani of the National Intervention Unit in Mthatha, “was shot at and wounded on Saturday and the matter is now under investigation”.
Speaking from his hospital bed Thiwani said he was returning to Notyesi's house between 11pm and midnight when he saw a vehicle following him and his colleague.
Thiwani and his friend had been at Notyesi’s house the entire night.
“They flickered their lights at us. I am not sure whether they wanted us to stop or what. But I pulled over and two of them came to me and pulled out guns. My gun was too far for me to take out in time,” he said.
“I had to think on my feet and immediately yelled that there are people with guns behind us. They lost focus and I got out of the car to hide.
“I managed to take out my gun as they opened fire.
“In the heat of things, I think they managed to hit me on my forehead.
“When I realised that I was running out of bullets, I hid behind a tree and pretended as if I had back-up. They ran away,” said Thiwani.
The gunmen fled on foot leaving their vehicle, a VW Polo behind.
Notyesi said he had noticed a vehicle parked not too far from his home when Thiwani and his colleague left his house.
“A few minutes later I heard gunshots. These guys were shooting nonstop. I feel responsible for (Thiwani's) shooting because they were at my house. I have no doubt that the shooters involved my enemies who have been spreading lies saying I was the person behind the murder of a bodyguard of the OR Tambo chairman,” said Notyesi.
The Daily Dispatch reported last month on the murder of ANC OR Tambo chairman Xolile Nkompela’s bodyguard Zukile Nyontso. Nyontso died in a hail of bullets while he was driving Nkompela home outside Tsolo.
The vehicle found by police near Notyesi’s home belongs to a Mthatha medical doctor, Simthandile Toni.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch from Notyesi's home yesterday Toni said he had no idea that his car had been used in criminal activities. He said he had left his car outside his house and had forgotten to take the keys out of the ignition.
“I only learned about my car's whereabouts when my brother phoned me around 2am to tell me that my car was taken by the police.
“I was sleeping at home after having left it outside in my yard with the keys in the ignition.” said Toni.
Cop shooting may be linked to ORT bodyguard murder
The incident took place on Saturday night outside the home of well known Mthatha lawyer Mvuzo Notyesi, who made a name for himself after Madikizela-Mandela hired him to represent her in her court bid to claim the Qunu home of her ex-husband, the late former president Nelson Mandela.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Mzukisi Fatyela confirmed that the police officer, Mzekelo Thiwani of the National Intervention Unit in Mthatha, “was shot at and wounded on Saturday and the matter is now under investigation”.
Speaking from his hospital bed Thiwani said he was returning to Notyesi's house between 11pm and midnight when he saw a vehicle following him and his colleague.
Thiwani and his friend had been at Notyesi’s house the entire night.
“They flickered their lights at us. I am not sure whether they wanted us to stop or what. But I pulled over and two of them came to me and pulled out guns. My gun was too far for me to take out in time,” he said.
“I had to think on my feet and immediately yelled that there are people with guns behind us. They lost focus and I got out of the car to hide.
“I managed to take out my gun as they opened fire.
“In the heat of things, I think they managed to hit me on my forehead.
“When I realised that I was running out of bullets, I hid behind a tree and pretended as if I had back-up. They ran away,” said Thiwani.
The gunmen fled on foot leaving their vehicle, a VW Polo behind.
Notyesi said he had noticed a vehicle parked not too far from his home when Thiwani and his colleague left his house.
“A few minutes later I heard gunshots. These guys were shooting nonstop. I feel responsible for (Thiwani's) shooting because they were at my house. I have no doubt that the shooters involved my enemies who have been spreading lies saying I was the person behind the murder of a bodyguard of the OR Tambo chairman,” said Notyesi.
The Daily Dispatch reported last month on the murder of ANC OR Tambo chairman Xolile Nkompela’s bodyguard Zukile Nyontso. Nyontso died in a hail of bullets while he was driving Nkompela home outside Tsolo.
The vehicle found by police near Notyesi’s home belongs to a Mthatha medical doctor, Simthandile Toni.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch from Notyesi's home yesterday Toni said he had no idea that his car had been used in criminal activities. He said he had left his car outside his house and had forgotten to take the keys out of the ignition.
“I only learned about my car's whereabouts when my brother phoned me around 2am to tell me that my car was taken by the police.
“I was sleeping at home after having left it outside in my yard with the keys in the ignition.” said Toni.
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