THE family of a man who was allegedly stabbed to death while having tea (a traditional activity) of a neighbor in Koki, Mzimkhulu, in April last year, is complaining about the police brutality.
In this incident which happened in the middle of the day in front of everyone, Mr. Ziphilele Mtambo (42) was brutally killed.
According to the deceased’s brother, Mr. Nyameko Mtambo, it was April 25, 2025, when the accident happened.
He said the incident took place in the yard where the work was done, which is the neighbor of the deceased as well as the accused. He said the incident happened where everyone was sitting, including the deceased and his relatives as well as other neighbors.
“It is said that the argument started because of alcohol. The deceased wanted to drink alcohol, but the suspects did not want him to drink. It is said that they started to stand up and hit him, joining him. While this was being watched, one of them took out the blade of a knife and stabbed him repeatedly,” said Mtambo.
He went on to say that the relatives of the deceased who were present at the scene, rushed him to the hospital, but it was late at night, after being put to bed for a few hours.
He said the police were called to the scene of the incident, they arrived after the deceased had been taken to the hospital, they asked questions about what happened to the owner of the house, and a case was opened, he said When the suspects saw that the deceased was seriously injured, they fled the area.
“They were not there for a few days but they came back. When we were burying them they came back, they were not arrested,” said Mtambo.
He went on to say that they kept expecting that they would be arrested but that happened.
“What saddens us is that it has been almost a year since they have been walking freely in the community, of people who have never done anything. We here lost a loved one because of them,” said Mtambo.
He said what saddens them is that they hear the speeches of the accused in the public, when they boast that no action will ever be taken in the case because they pay the police.
He said that they do not know how true this statement is, but when they look at what is happening in the case, standing together, they suspect that it is true.
“What we are crying for is justice. We are hoping that Mkhwanazi (KZN Police Commissioner, Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi) will intervene because we did not get help from the police we had hoped for,” he said.
The police said that they are not releasing any information related to this matter according to the case number Isolezwe was given by the family.