THE two bodyguards from the City of uMhlathuze died on the day they were supposed to meet and resolve the long-time beef between them. The two guards, one assigned to the City Mayor, Xolani Ngwezi, and the Municipal Manager, Nkosenye Zulu, were sworn enemies.
Both Ngwezi and Zulu tried to sit them down several times to find an amicable solution and to end their beef, but all their attempts failed dismally, as they continued with their beef until they drew their last breath.
On the day of the tragedy, Thursday, 28 March, the two rivals were due to attend a meeting with one of the senior leaders to try and resolve the tension between them.
On the morning of the tragic day, the mayor's guard was off duty and came to the office for the meeting they were supposed to have.
But at the entrance, he came across MM’s bodyguards he was beefing with, and an altercation erupted between them.
It's alleged that the MM’s bodyguard drew a gun and shot the mayor's guard.
In the attempt to run away, the shooter was then shot and killed by the colleague/s of the slain mayor’s guard.
They both died instantly at the scene.
It's not yet clear what the beef was about, but their beef started a long time ago.
The municipality spokesman, Bongani Gina, admitted that the two were known rivals and their beef was known but refused to get to details of what they were beefing about.
He said the two were scheduled for a meeting in the deputy mayor’s office where a senior would chair the meeting to try and find a solution.
“One of the guards was off duty, and he came to the office to attend the meeting they were scheduled for, but unfortunately, things turned out like that,” said Gina.
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He said their beef is known to both their principals, and they have tried to intervene to bring peace between them.
Gina added that their beef was a known thing, and everyone knew that the two were rivals, but no one thought things would end like this.
“We are all shocked and traumatised because we didn’t expect what happened. But all the staff members who witnessed the incident will receive counselling,” said Gina.
Daily Sun tried to get hold of the families, but the municipality asked to give families time, hence, they have not identified the names of the guards.
It's alleged that one of the guards is the son of the very same municipal manager and was his protector.
The KZN police spokesman, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said information at police disposal at this stage indicates that an off-duty bodyguard shot and fatally wounded another bodyguard.
“The suspect was also shot and fatally wounded by another bodyguard colleague of the first victim. Investigations will be instituted to establish what could have been the motive for the shooting,” he said.
King Cetshwayo mayor Thami Ntuli said it's disturbing that the two guards chose to solve their problem with guns.
“We send condolences to the affected families, including the mayor and MM because they were like family to them as well as they spent most of their time with them. We continue to call on people to choose a peaceful manner to deal with things,” he said.
