E-hailing driver among four victims fatally burned in Inanda mob justice attack

One of the four men who were fatally set on fire on suspicion of stock theft in Matata village, Maphephetheni, Inanda, last weekend has been identified as a driver for an e-hailing service.

The men were travelling in two vehicles, a Nissan NP200 half-tonne bakkie and a seven-seater Toyota Rumion, when both vehicles were torched after the occupants were allegedly found transporting meat. Rumours quickly spread in the community that the deceased had stolen and slaughtered cattle.

Earlier this week, Isolezwe, the Sunday Tribune's sister publication, spoke to a relative of one of the victims, Wandile Zaca, who had been driving the seven-seater. The relative asked not to be named, saying the family was devastated by claims circulating on social media portraying Zaca as a livestock thief.

“Wandile was an e-hailing driver; he was not a livestock thief,” the relative said, adding that Zaca had worked in the industry for some time.

According to the family, Zaca had accepted a ride request on Friday from passengers needing transport to Inanda.

“He accepted the request and drove them to Inanda, it was his last trip,” the relative said.

The family only became aware something was wrong when the owner of the Rumion received an alert from the vehicle’s tracking company early on Saturday morning.

“The tracking company called to say there was a problem with the vehicle,” the relative said. The owner drove to the location indicated by the tracker in Inanda and found the burnt-out vehicle with bodies inside.

“When he looked inside, he saw three burnt bodies. There was no one in the driver’s seat, but we strongly suspect that Wandile is among those who were killed,” the relative said. “We can’t reach him on his phone. We’ve heard some people managed to escape, but his disappearance makes us believe he is one of the victims.”

The family is now awaiting DNA results to confirm whether Zaca is among the deceased.

The relative said they could not explain how Zaca’s vehicle became entangled in a stock-theft incident on Saturday after he had dropped off passengers the previous night.

“We will rely on the police investigation to clarify that. What we know is that Wandile was never involved in any criminal activity,” he said.

A community member who spoke to the newspaper said residents were fed up with repeated stock theft incidents in the area, where thieves allegedly slaughter cattle in the fields and leave with the meat.

According to the community member, residents confronted two men in the NP200 at what they suspected was a crime scene in the early hours of Saturday morning. The men reportedly failed to explain what they were doing in the area so early in the morning. Moments later, the Toyota Rumion arrived with four occupants, and a gunshot allegedly rang out from the vehicle.

It was after this, the source said, that residents set both vehicles alight. Two of the occupants are believed to have escaped.

KwaZulu-Natal police have launched an investigation.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said, "Police responded to reports of two vehicles which were burnt and upon arrival at the scene, police found one body burnt beyond recognition inside a Nissan NP200, and three other bodies were found inside a Toyota Rumion, also burnt beyond recognition."

He added that police also found three carcasses of cattle next to the NP200 vehicle.

"The motive of the killings is unknown at this stage; however, police suspect that the incident may be related to stock theft," he said

Netshiunda said the process of identifying the victims was underway and a search for the suspects was ongoing.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE