By Buziwe Nocuze
Some friends were out looking for work in the tiny Western Cape town of Onrus on January 5, 2023 when a friendly motorist stopped by to offer the group free wine and whisky.
Too tempting to resist, the five men toasted their good fortune and drank – but within minutes they all fell dangerously ill and one, Mawethu Mgidlana, lost his life.
Mgidlana died in police custody later that day after officers allegedly mistook his sickness for drunk and disorderly behaviour and arrested him.
Terra Mgidlana, the brother of 53-year-old Mawethu, believes the person who gave the group the drinks tried to poison them.
“The person who gave them alcohol wanted to kill all of them, even though it was only my brother who passed away,” he said.
Zihlalele Jikana, who was part of the group and also hospitalised, said they went to Onrus at around 2pm to look for work.
“While we were still waiting, a white man arrived. He didn’t get out of the car but opened the boot and told us to take the alcohol. There were about five bottles of wine and whiskey.
“When he stopped we were happy that he would give us a job for the day. To our surprise, the man was bringing us alcohol. We didn’t think that he had poisoned it.”
Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Ponje, spokesperson for the SAPS, said local police shortly afterwards responded to a complaint of drunk and disorderly behaviour.
They took two of the men to the Hermanus Police Station, including Mgidlana. His condition rapidly declined while in custody.
“One of the two who were taken to the police station unfortunately died while in custody. And the second person was taken to the local hospital for medical treatment, where he was discharged after an hour,” said Ponje.
“Allegations were made that the five received food and alcohol from a community member. Further allegations are made that the alcohol was mixed with an unknown substance. However, this could not be confirmed.”
After news of his death reached the community, political party the Land Party gathered and marched to the police station, demanding that the suspect be arrested.
An inquest docket has been opened for investigation, but no arrests have been made.
Pictured above: Land Party members marched to the police station
Image source: Supplied
