A small Eastern Cape community has been left in shock, fearing for their lives after four men were found killed execution-style in a forest yesterday.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said four men aged between 30 and 55 had been found dead with stab and bullet wounds in Mpangana village, near Libode.
Although some villagers suspected revenge and stock theft to be the motive for the killings, Fatyela could not immediately confirm or deny this, stressing it was still a matter of police investigation.
“But I am sure that we will make an arrest soon,” said Fatyela.
He said the four men had been reported missing on Sunday.
Nyandeni Ward 8 councillor Zolani Bodoza, who visited the crime scene yesterday, expressed concern over the killing.
“It is alleged the four men were kidnapped by a mob of people accusing them of being the kingpins of stock theft in the area.
“They went missing on Sunday and their bodies were found this morning,” said Bodoza.
He said that two of the bodies were found down the river bank and two others were found metres away.
“Some looked like as if they had been burnt or injured in the scrotum,” said the councillor.
He said after the men disappeared on Sunday, a search was launched and led by police from Libode.
Bodoza said he personally did not see a mob kidnapping the four men. but had been informed of it.
Also, there were allegations that the killings had been in connection with stocktheft and revenge.
The area’s traditional leader, Mthawelanga Jongintaba Ndamase and his headman, Masese Bebi strongly condemned the killings.
“Police must arrest all those involved in the killing.
“Nobody has the right to kill other people, irrespective of whatever reason,” said Ndamase.
Bebi said the victims’ hands had been tied with wire.
“They had marks as if they had been sjambokked or beaten with knobkieries.
“There were allegations of stock theft and some sort of revenge,” said Bebi. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Village fearful after gruesome discovery of four male bodies
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said four men aged between 30 and 55 had been found dead with stab and bullet wounds in Mpangana village, near Libode.
Although some villagers suspected revenge and stock theft to be the motive for the killings, Fatyela could not immediately confirm or deny this, stressing it was still a matter of police investigation.
“But I am sure that we will make an arrest soon,” said Fatyela.
He said the four men had been reported missing on Sunday.
Nyandeni Ward 8 councillor Zolani Bodoza, who visited the crime scene yesterday, expressed concern over the killing.
“It is alleged the four men were kidnapped by a mob of people accusing them of being the kingpins of stock theft in the area.
“They went missing on Sunday and their bodies were found this morning,” said Bodoza.
He said that two of the bodies were found down the river bank and two others were found metres away.
“Some looked like as if they had been burnt or injured in the scrotum,” said the councillor.
He said after the men disappeared on Sunday, a search was launched and led by police from Libode.
Bodoza said he personally did not see a mob kidnapping the four men. but had been informed of it.
Also, there were allegations that the killings had been in connection with stocktheft and revenge.
The area’s traditional leader, Mthawelanga Jongintaba Ndamase and his headman, Masese Bebi strongly condemned the killings.
“Police must arrest all those involved in the killing.
“Nobody has the right to kill other people, irrespective of whatever reason,” said Ndamase.
Bebi said the victims’ hands had been tied with wire.
“They had marks as if they had been sjambokked or beaten with knobkieries.
“There were allegations of stock theft and some sort of revenge,” said Bebi. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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