TAVERN patrons were dancing the night away at a tavern in Vlaklagte no 1 in Mpumalanga on 23 December when their fun was cut short by gunshots.
Jabulani Nkosi (31) fell to the floor, shot dead by what is believed to have been an inkabi.
But in a chilling turn of events, the boozers quickly closed the main gate, apprehended the suspected inkabi and assaulted him. He was then placed in his car and it was set on fire.
A patron said: “We all laid down when we heard the gunshot. Minutes later people got hold of the shooter. He was beaten and thrown into his car. The car was then set alight. Everybody then left the tavern.”
Another patron said the fight started a week ago and Jabulani was allegedly killed over a woman.
“Jabulani was involved in a scuffle with a man over a woman. The man decided to hire an inkabi to deal with him,” said the patron.
Then, things got even more shocking.
“The man who hired the inkabi was at another tavern. Someone heard him boasting about sending the inkabi and he was also beaten with crates and taken to hospital where he died.”
Jabulani’s mum, Zodwa Masuku (52), said she still can’t believe her son is dead. She said the pain is unbearable and she still doesn’t know why her son had to die like a dog.
Shocked tavern owner, Willie Mahlangu, said something like this has never happened in his tavern before. “I was inside my house when the whole incident unfolded. I heard a gunshot and went to check,” he said.
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Cops spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala confirmed that three people died in separate incidents. He said police are investigating two fatal incidents at a certain tavern.
He said one of the two victims was reportedly torched inside a VW Citi Golf after being severely assaulted in what appears to be an act of retaliation. Help was summoned but the victim could not be rescued.
The other victim who sustained gunshot wounds was also certified dead by paramedics.
Mohlala said another person was killed when he was allegedly attacked by residents a few kilometres away from the first incident.
He said an inquest docket has been opened.
Mohlala said Kwaggafontein police are investigating. No one has been arrested yet and police urge anyone with information that might help with the investigation to call CrimeStop on 08600 10111.
