Glebelands Hostel alleged hitman in court

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

A man police have identified as the most feared and wanted hitman they have linked to the Glebelands Hostel murders is due to appear in the Umlazi Magistrate's Court this morning.

The man was arrested on Sunday during an operation by various police units following an intensive investigation on the suspect, who is wanted for murder and attempted murder cases at Glebelands Hostel and Montclair. 

The suspect, 38, will be charged with an attempted murder case where Fezeka Njiyelo, 29, was shot and wounded in 2016, as well as two counts of murder in Montclair in 2015.

“On 12 September 2015, William Mthembu and Thokozani Machi were exiting a supermarket in Montclair when they were attacked. It is alleged that the suspects shot and killed them before fleeing in their getaway vehicle,” police said.

A murder docket was opened at the Montclair police station.

“It was immediately established that the victims were from the Glebelands Hostel and that their murder was linked to the tensions in the hostel at that time and the Detective Task Team immediately took over the investigation.”

The suspect is also accused of drawing up a hit list of five names and has been linked to a plot to kill peace committee leaders.

According to the charge sheet, the men conspired to form a syndicate with the common purpose of killing Glebelands’ residents in order to take control of the hostel and acquire control of payments made by hostel dwellers.

The dozens of killings that have taken place over the past few years were investigated by the Moerane Commission of Inquiry, which is yet to release its findings.

The suspect will appear at the Umlazi Magistrates Court to join the seven other suspects, whose bail was successfully opposed.

The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa, welcomed the arrest of the suspect.

“This arrest once again demonstrates that our police officers are still committed to bringing those responsible for criminality at Glebelands hostel to book. We are aware of the great lengths that our police officers go through in tracing those who were allegedly involved in these killings at Glebelands Hostel and we commend them for their persistence,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za