»ANC Councillor and two other guys killed in Piet Retief by gunfire«
On Friday night, 13 January, three men were shot and killed by unknown assailants in a yard in Mkhondo, Piet Retief, Mpumalanga. The perpetrators are still at large.
36-year-old Sbonelo Mthembu has been confirmed as the councilmember. He was an African National Congress member (ANC).
Colonel Donald Mdhluli, spokesman for the Mpumalanga police, stated that Mthembu and his mechanic were dropped off by a friend in Mkhondo at approximately 20:00, when three armed men suddenly emerged in the yard.
“According to reports, the perpetrators fired multiple times at the councilman, who was in the yard, then fatally shot his friend, who was still in his vehicle. “The mechanic did not escape the shooting, as he was also shot in the yard by the same suspects,” added Mdhluli.
The suspects fled in a direction unknown. At the scene, paramedics and police discovered Mthembu’s friend slumped behind the steering wheel of a bakkie with a gunshot wound. His death was pronounced at the site.
Before the officials came, Mthembu and the mechanic were transported to a neighboring hospital in a private vehicle. The mechanic was pronounced dead upon arrival, while the councilman succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
The authorities are investigating three murder counts. Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, the police commissioner of Mpumalanga, assembled a team of investigation professionals to investigate the incident and apprehend the offenders.
The public is encouraged to phone the Crime Stop hotline at 08600-10111 if they have information that could aid the investigation.
»ANC Councillor and two other guys killed in Piet Retief by gunfire«