Sandiso Phaliso
Makhaya Bomvana was a security guard who worked nights at the Golden Highway shopping centre in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape.
The 38-year-old was suspected by the local neighbourhood watch of giving criminals entry to the shopping centre at night.
The neighbourhood watch group then tied him up with ropes and beat him to death.
Four members of the neighbourhood watch have been arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, assault and torture. Police spokesperson Captain Nkosikho Mzuku confirmed the arrests and said other victims have since come forward saying they’d also been assaulted by the crime fighters.
Buntu Kamlana, Xolile Bala, Sipho Mtali and Thomas Bvukyimhuru, a Zimbabwean national, made their third court appearance at the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application. The case was remanded until next Tuesday.
When the arrests were made, Bomvana’s family thought there’d be justice for their son.
To their shock, hundreds of community members in Mdantsane flocked to court on Thursday to show support for their son’s alleged killers.
There was such a high number of protesters demanding that the suspects be set free that nearby businesses had to be shut down and public transport was restricted.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, neighbourhood patroller Lwandiso Mafu said he was happy with the turn-out.
“Households are contributing whatever money they can afford to pay the lawyers and bail. People are supporting us because they know we patrol these streets to keep them safe from criminals,” he said.
Some residents told Scrolla.Africa that since the neighbourhood watch had stopped patrolling streets in the wake of the arrests, they have noticed an increase in local criminal activity.
“We felt safe when there were patrols but now opportunistic criminals are taking advantage of us,” said one resident.
Bomvana’s mother Nomathemba said: “No mother should endure the pain I am feeling. If Makhaya was guilty, they should have reported him to the law enforcement. They killed him like a dog.”
She said she was amazed that there were residents who supported the accused.
“People are celebrating his death like he was a convicted criminal,” she said.
