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Police shoot dead Mthatha ‘traditional leader’ implicated in school extortion scheme

Police shoot dead Mthatha ‘traditional leader’ implicated in school extortion scheme
Estelle Ellis
By Estelle Ellis
4 Sep 2024
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A ‘traditional leader’ in Mandela Park, Mthatha West, was shot dead by members of the police’s National Intervention Unit on Wednesday afternoon. The man, who has been implicated in an extortion scheme at schools in the area, and his two companions were killed in a shootout.

A “traditional leader” from Mthatha West, who had been implicated in the alleged extortion of protection money for schools in the area to remain open, and two of his companions, were killed in a shootout with members of the police’s National Intervention Unit (NIU) on Wednesday afternoon.

It is understood that Dalinzolo “Sakie” Mareke’s house was searched by the police earlier on Wednesday, 4 September 2024. He was not at home, but on Wednesday afternoon he allegedly went with two armed men to confront police officers at the NIU base in Mthatha.

While the exact circumstances are still unclear, it is understood from police sources that Mareke and the two men, all armed, went to confront members of the NIU at their base.

There was an argument and then, it is alleged, Mareke and his men took out their firearms and began shooting at the police. Mareke and his companions were killed in the ensuing shootout.

By Wednesday night, the Mthatha Public Order Police, senior police officers and members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate were still on the scene. 

Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed that three armed suspects were fatally shot and one police officer was injured in the shootout. She said the incident happened at about 4.30pm. 

School extortion


Last month, AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo suggested Mareke was involved in an extortion scheme involving the proceeds of a cellphone network tower at Laphum’ikhwezi Primary School.

Mareke in turn held a meeting to raise money to sue the king for defamation.

A report from the school district didn’t name Mareke, but stated that the problem began when the “local chief” and a group of men stormed into the school and demanded that proceeds from the tower on the school premises should be deposited into their bank accounts.

This group allegedly enquired about funds schools received from the towers, while in another school, they allegedly temporarily confiscated the school hall keys, claiming they belonged to the community.

The report states that, on 13 August, the group allegedly assaulted the Laphum’ikhwezi Primary School principal in front of his staff and learners when he refused to adhere to the demand. This led to teachers leaving the school as they believed the environment appeared to be life-threatening. The teachers reported to the district office for five days while the school was closed. 

Read more: Police and business turn the screws on extortion mafia terrorising all corners of SA

Eastern Cape education spokesperson Mali Mtima said the OR Tambo education district intervened by establishing a task team. The team’s terms of reference included meeting the AbaThembu king to seek his intervention.

“After the task team met with the king on 16 August 2024 to present the challenges of the schools in Mthatha West inclusive of Laphum’ikhwezi primary, His Majesty King Buyelekhaya [Dalindyebo] convened a meeting for AbaThembu of Mthatha West area on 20 August 2024 to provide leadership and direction on the issues affecting schools in the area.

“[Education] MEC [Fundile] Gade commended the king for his intervention, as such since this morning, August 21st, 2024, schooling at Laphum’ikhwezi has resumed, teaching and learning is taking place,” Mtima said at the time.

Read more: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu declares war against ‘armies of murderous parasites’

Dalindyebo remained resolute and unapologetic on Wednesday evening. He said Mareke was not a recognised chief of the Mthatha West area.

“All other criminal elements have been dealt with and will continue to be dealt with by law enforcement agencies,” he said.

“We call upon all other individuals masquerading as chiefs and/or traditional leaders in the area enabling their criminal enterprise as extortionists to immediately desist from such criminal behaviour,” Dalindyebo’s spokesperson Prince Zanothando Mtirara said in a statement issued on behalf of the king. DM

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