Fear returns to Mbumbulu as alleged hitman's associate granted bail
MBUMBULU residents are living in fear after an alleged associate of notorious hitman Qha Dlamini, was released on bail. The community, still recovering from a wave of violent murders that terrorised the area last year, feels justice is slipping through their fingers yet again.
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Members of the Mbumbulu community left the local magistrate’s court dejected and angered after a man allegedly linked to a notorious hitman was granted bail this week.
Sikhumbuzo Dube, who uses a wheelchair, was arrested in connection with the murder of a man in uMlazi on Christmas Eve. He stands accused of being an associate of Qha Dlamini, an alleged hitman who was believed to have terrorised the Mbumbulu community before he was shot dead by police during a shootout last year.
Dlamini was killed after allegedly refusing to surrender when police arrived at his home to arrest him. According to police, he opened fire using an AK47 assault rifle, prompting officers to return fire.
His death was widely celebrated by residents who believed it brought an end to a reign of terror in the area. Community members allege that Dlamini was responsible for a spate of murders in Mbumbulu, with Dube allegedly assisting him. Dube’s release on bail has reignited fear and frustration among residents, many of whom say justice is once again slipping through their fingers.
Speaking to Independent Media, residents said they had frequently seen Dube moving around the area in a wheelchair following a gunshot injury. However, they claimed they did not know who shot him or under what circumstances the injury was sustained.
On Tuesday, the Mbumbulu Magistrate’s Court granted Dube bail of R1,000. Last year, Mbumbulu was gripped by fear following a wave of violent murders that left the community traumatised. The attacks varied in nature, with some victims killed during home invasions, while others were ambushed on their way to work. All the victims died from gunshot wounds.
The violence was so severe that some residents fled the area, fearing for their lives.
Among the victims were a local induna and his son, as well as five people who were killed in a mass shooting. Another high-profile murder was that of Alfred Masinga, who was shot dead at his home.
Initial speculation suggested the killings were linked to stock theft. However, when people with no livestock were also targeted, the community was left confused and searching for answers about the true motive behind the murders.