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Inkosi killer gunned down

DEADLY FIRE: Bullet holes on the floor where Makhosabo Mkhize was killed by assailants yesterday. Pic: Canaan Mdletshe. Circa. © Sowetan.
DEADLY FIRE: Bullet holes on the floor where Makhosabo Mkhize was killed by assailants yesterday. Pic: Canaan Mdletshe. Circa. © Sowetan.

ONE of the men accused of killing Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi of Msinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands was shot dead yesterday, just a day before he and his accomplice were to be served an indictment.

ONE of the men accused of killing Inkosi Mbongeleni Zondi of Msinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands was shot dead yesterday, just a day before he and his accomplice were to be served an indictment.

The alleged accomplice, Siphamandla Mhlongo, is still being held in Westville Prison.

Makhosabo "Swayo" Mkhize, 25, was out on R10000 bail for Zondi's murder.

He was found dead yesterday morning in KwaMashu's F-section.

His body was riddled with bullet wounds. More than 13 cartridges of a 9mm pistol and R5 rifle were found on the scene.

When Sowetan arrived at the crime scene yesterday Mkhize's relatives had cleaned up the blood stains.

The floor of the outbuilding he rented was riddled with about 13 bullet holes.

There were blood stains everywhere. Mkhize was granted bail on June 30.

The killing of Zondi, a close friend of President Jacob Zuma and a descendant of Inkosi Bhambatha kaManciza Zondi, shocked the community and province.

After his release on bail Mkhize rented the outbuilding in KwaMashu.

The door to the house had apparently been broken down by his killers. A relative, who asked not to be named, said unknown people who posed as policemen had attacked Mkhize.

"He was alone in the house when he was attacked by people who introduced themselves as police. The attackers were apparently in police uniforms and drove a car that looked like a police van," he said.

"Witnesses said they heard people ordering Mkhize to lie on his stomach. When we arrived, his lifeless body was on the floor, and his hands behind his head," he said.

When asked if Mkhize had spoken to them about fearing for his life, the relative said: "Anyone involved in the taxi industry is always in fear of his life."

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Director Phindile Hadebe said Mkhize was killed by unknown suspects who impersonated police.

"We are investigating. Mkhize was out on bail in Inkosi Zondi's murder case," Hadebe said.

Inkosi Zondi was killed on January 22 while visiting his fiancé in Umlazi.

More than 50 cartridges were found on the scene.

Mkhize was the nephew of Bongani Mkhize, who was the chairperson of Maphumulo Taxi Association, who was gunned down by police in Durban's Umgeni Road when they wanted to question him in connection with Zondi's death.

Before his death the taxi boss had obtained a court order against the police, claiming they wanted to kill him over the murder of Superintendent Zethembe Chonco.

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