Residents of Waterworks were heartbroken following a deadly confrontation on December 31, 2024, involving two men—one Basotho and one Zulu—resulting in the death of a Basotho man. It is believed that the incident arose from an argument between two Basotho gang members and a Zulu individual who was trying to exit the gang.
A community member, who requested anonymity, reported that the conflict began at a local spaza shop when the Basotho men demanded two beers from the Zulu man, who declined. This refusal escalated into a violent clash, during which the Zulu man allegedly defended himself by seizing a stick from his attackers. He struck one of the Basotho men in the neck, causing him to fall, while he managed to scare off the second assailant. Following the altercation, the Zulu man sought refuge at a friend's home, where he recounted the incident.
Just before midnight, the Zulu man returned to his shack only to discover it ablaze. He was able to put out the fire, but soon after, he was attacked again. Using the same stick, he was confronted by the Basotho assailants once more, and this time, he fatally injured one of them. The other attacker escaped into the field. After showing his friend the scene, the Zulu man returned to rest.
The next morning, when police arrived, the suspect had already fled. The community member noted that no forensic investigation took place, and no photographs were taken of the crime scene, with only the body being retrieved by the authorities.
However, a community member spotted the fleeing suspect hiding in the field and alerted others. The community, dissatisfied with the lack of police action, organized a search for the suspect. After a tumultuous chase, he was located near Protea South after jumping onto the N12 highway. He allegedly confessed to the homicide and revealed the names of his accomplices, indicating their involvement in stealing copper cables from a military base in Lenasia, as well as from railway stations and other places.
The community ensured that the suspect was not harmed during the apprehension. Around 5:22 PM, the police were notified, but yet again, there was no swift response. Annoyed by the inadequate support, the residents chose to take action themselves and handed the suspect over to the police, who had previously been unresponsive.
This event emphasizes the increasing discontent within the community regarding the ineffectiveness of policing and the sense of obligation residents feel to intervene when law enforcement fails to act.
SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhani, confirmed that a murder case has been filed at the Lenasia police station. The suspect was arrested and appeared in court on January 6, 2025. Investigations by the police are currently ongoing.
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