The family of a prominent anti-crime activist, murdered two years ago in uMhlabuyalingana, has voiced its profound frustration and fear over the protracted delays in his murder case, alleging deliberate stalling and an incomplete investigation.
Judah Mthethwa, a household name in northern KwaZulu-Natal and the chairperson of the Alingan Society Against Crime, was gunned down outside his home in February 2023. For decades, Mthethwa had been at the forefront of the fight against cross-border crime syndicates terrorizing communities along the Mozambique and Eswatini borders.
Six months after his death, a police task team deployed to clamp down on cross-border crime syndicates arrested three suspects in connection with his murder. Police stated that the individuals were linked to more than 87 cases, including murder, car hijackings, and theft in the region.
Despite the arrests, the murder trial has dragged on for two years, leaving Mthethwa’s family in a state of anguish and fear. A relative of Mthethwa, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said his death has left a devastating void.
“We are very afraid. We are not safe at all,” the relative said. “As this case has not yet been finalized, we don’t know if other people who may be involved are still running free. We don’t know what is going on. We are very sad and this is why we are pleading for help.”
The family believes the delays are deliberate and that the masterminds behind the killing have not been caught. The relative remembered Mthethwa as a pillar of the community, responsible for his family and a benefactor to local children. “He left a huge void. But Judah did a lot for the family… He also encouraged and assisted those children who wanted to go to school but didn’t have the means,” they said.
Concerns over the handling of the case have also been raised by those who worked closely with Mthethwa in community crime-fighting structures.
However, police authorities have shifted the blame for the delays to the court system. A police spokesperson, Lt Col. Robert Netshiunda, stated that the police have fulfilled their duties. “Police can arrest, prosecute, protest, build up the case, go to the courts. So if the court processes are delaying, unfortunately it’s not on the police,” Lt Col. Netshiunda said. “We do talk to our counterparts in the justice system that this is a matter we are ready [for], but if there are delays there, unfortunately, it cannot be blamed on the police.”
The case has faced further complications, with a defense attorney previously withdrawing due to safety concerns. Lt Col. Netshiunda confirmed that the police investigation is continuing.
