The family of Deon Mkhwanazi, 38, who was fatally shot at close range while in his bed at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley, are still struggling to find closure as no arrests have been made for the cold-blooded killing.
THE FAMILY of Deon Mkhwanazi, 38, who was fatally shot at close range while in his bed at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley, are still struggling to find closure as no arrests have been made for the cold-blooded killing.
A bullet was reported to have struck him below the eye and exited through his skull on September 25, 2020.
A source close to the investigation alleged that Mkhwanazi was the “hired hitman” for the murder of Kgalalelo Funeral Parlour undertaker Wilco Motlhatledi.
Motlhatledi died from a single gunshot wound to the forehead after responding to a fake call-out to collect a body in Lerato Park in 2014.
The investigator stated that Mkhwanazi was instructed to kill Motlhatledi as he was regarded as a rival funeral undertaker. “Mkhwanazi apparently threatened to approach the police when payment was not forthcoming,” he said.
Following Mkhwanazi’s acquittal of the murder in 2015, he was wounded when he was shot outside his home in August 2020. He fled the scene and later collapsed at the garage in Barkly Road.
While he was recovering at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, four suspects, who were apparently dressed in personal protective equipment, walked into his ward and shot him in order to “finish off the job”.
Anna Mkhwanazi stated that she was prevented from visiting her son in hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Why was my son’s safety not guarded in the ward?” she questioned. “The CCTV cameras were apparently switched off at the time that he was killed and there were no security guards visible.”
She said the family were never provided with a copy of the autopsy report.
Lawrence Mkhwanazi criticised the hospital’s security measures and believed the security company should not have allowed weapons onto the premises.
“How did armed suspects escape from the hospital following the shooting? Other patients were removed from the ward prior to the shooting.”
He added that they had yet to receive answers from the Department of Health.
“No one has been held accountable for my brother’s death. His life was brutally taken, 30 days after he was released from prison. He was starting to get his life in order. He wasn’t perfect, but he did not deserve such a cruel death.”
The spokesperson for the MEC for Health, Lebogang Majaha, stated that the department had at the time of the incident extended its sincere condolences to the bereaved family.
“Furthermore, the department availed counselling for the family to help deal with the emotional trauma,” Majaha added.
“The matter is still under investigation. The department respects the rule of law and wishes to give the police space to carry out their duties in this regard.”
SAPS provincial spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam added that the Northern Cape Murder and Robbery detectives were still investigating the murder that took place at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital on September 25, 2020.
“The police are investigating the circumstances that led to the death, including the tracing of the suspects,” said Sam.
He added that a reward was offered for any information that could assist in the investigation.
“The police are again reaching out to anyone who may have more information on this case to contact Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Dibebe at 060 861 6893 or 08600 10111, or via the police MySAPS app. All information will be treated confidentially. The investigation is continuing,” said Sam.
Defensor Security, which was contracted to provide security services at the hospital at the time of the incident, did not respond to media enquiries.
