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These measures come 13 years after former national police commissioner, Bheki Cele, appointed a 12 member task team to investigate political killings in the province.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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Mpumalanga police are taking another chance at trying to crack political killings following about a decade of failure in resolving cases.

This is according to the provincial Community Safety, Security and Liaison’s fourth quarter progress report that MEC Jackie Macie presented to the legislature this week in response to the legislature’s resolution that measures needed to be developed to investigate political killings and other crimes.

Macie said in the report that a Violent and Serious Crimes Unit was established to investigate political killings. The MEC indicated that in-service training was given to police and senior officers were mentoring juniors on how to deal with various cases.

“Members were nominated to attend relevant crime investigation courses e.g resolving of crime, informers’ handling, commercial crimes, sexual offences and handling of crime scenes,” he reported.

These measures come 13 years after former national police commissioner, Bheki Cele, appointed a 12 member task team to investigate political killings in the province.

The outcome of that investigation was never made public despite protest marches by the SACP and when Cele was appointed Minister of Police in 2018, he still did not give any feedback. Cases Cele undertook to resolve in 2011 became cold and they are no longer part of the police’s agenda.

The People’s Eye understands that Macie’s department has no authority to investigate crimes but the police. However, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said that she was not aware of the task team.

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, said that Macie gathered the information from the police, but could not give details.

Democratic Alliance’s legislature member, Tebogo Sekaledi, said that the party was pleased with this development. “The affected families’ hopes must not be raised for nothing this time around. Someone somewhere knows something and we urge them to come forward and help this unit to crack the cases,” Sekaledi said.

These are the unresolved cases in Mpumalanga:

·      The fatal shooting of former City of Mbombela speaker, Jimmy Mohlala, on January 4 2019. Mohlala was due to lay charges relating to tenders in the construction of R1.2 billion Mbombela World Cup soccer stadium.

The police arrested wrong suspects in 2011, including a 59-year-old hospital cleaner and two policemen, who were released due to lack of evidence in 2012.

·      Former Mpumalanga Sports, Culture and Recreation spokesperson, Sammy Mpatlanyane, was shot dead on January 5 2010. `Mpatlanyane allegedly questioned a payment that was made to Mbongeni Ngema’s “Lion of the East” musical which was meant to honour ANC activist, Gert Sibande.

His signature was allegedly forged while he was in Germany. In this case, suspects from various countries in the SADC region were arrested and the main witness from Mozambique was reportedly declared unfit to stand trial after psychiatric observation, and eventually died.

·      On January 5 2011, former ANC chief whip at Ehlanzeni district, Johan Ndlovu, was killed in the Bushbuckridge area. Ndlovu was earmarked to stand as mayor.

·      Former ANC Gert Sibande regional secretary, Muzi Manyathi (41) was  fatally shot at close range on November 4 2021 after he had purchased some items at a kiosk in Piet Retief. 

Manyathi’s tragic death came after he posted on his Facebook that he was going to be assassinated due to ANC infighting.

·      ANC Mkhondo councillor, Sibonelo Mthembu, and his friend Sizwe Mbingo (40) and mechanic Sandile Khumalo (51) were sprayed with bullets at Longhomes township outside Piet Retief on January 13 2023. The trio was ambushed when Mthembu’s vehicle was being fixed.

·      In March 2020, Prince Manzini was bludgeoned to death  at a meeting in KaBokweni. The branch meeting turned violent some of the people were allegedly allowed in without having their identity documents scanned and signing the attendance register. 

Sekaledi said that Macie should make available all necessary resources that will help the Serious and Violent Crime Unit to make a breakthrough on these cases.