'They left him wearing his underwear'

By Nondumiso Mbuyazi

Mxolisi Mkhize, 21, the community policing forum member shot dead while pursuing suspected robbers in KwaMashu's M Section on Tuesday, had been a member of the forum for only two days.

His aunt, Nonhlanhla Mkhize, 41, said Mkhize had decided to join the CPF as he had been a victim of crime far too often.

In April, he was robbed and stabbed on his way to work.

"They took all his clothes, and left him wearing his underwear," his aunt said on Wednesday.

"After humiliating him like that, they still stabbed him. He told us that he was fed up with the escalating crime in the area, and that is when he joined the CPF."

Forum members were patrolling the area on Tuesday morning when they saw five men robbing a man.

They rushed to assist the man, and the gang fired at them. Mkhize was wounded in the head and an off-duty policeman in the stomach. Mkhize died on the way to hospital.

Angered, people living in the area launched a search for the gang, alleged to have terrorised the community for months.

More than 200 people tracked down a man suspected to be one of the gang, Menzi Ndiyane, 22, and stoned him to death.

A second man was arrested and appeared before the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court yesterday. His case was postponed to next week.

The search continues for the three other men involved in robbing the man and shooting Mkhize.

Police spokesperson Captain Phindile Nxumalo said: "We are on their tails, and an arrest will be made soon."

Mkhize's aunt said crime in the area was so rife that not a day went by without someone being robbed.

Last week, Mkhize's younger sister was mugged outside her home.

"She was sitting in a car when the robbers pounced. That was the last straw, and Mxolisi knew that he had to do something to protect his family."

Mkhize has been hailed as a hero by the community and his family, and has been described as honest, respectful and friendly.

"He was well known in the community. Although I condemn what the community did to the alleged robber, I understand their frustration with the increasing crime. They are fed up.

"In several instances we have tried to get assistance from the police, but they are never available. Sadly, they react only when the community takes the law into its own hands."

Mkhize had been doing odd jobs to try to save for a tertiary education, his cousin, Thandeka Mkhize, 39, said.

The police officer wounded by the gang was discharged from King Edward Hospital on Wednesday.

• This article was originally published on page 6 of The Daily News on May 07, 2009