38 Year old Mondli Phungula was preparing to sleep on 25 January 2020, at 21:00, when he received a phone call from his friends inviting him to come to their place. Trusting his friends the victim left his residence at H2, Mjojo Street and drove off to KwaNdayo where his friends live.
His family became concerned when he was not found in his room the next day. They contacted his friends who claimed to have not seen the victim. They initiated a search for their son but he was nowhere to be found and his vehicle was also missing. The matter was reported to Esikhaleni police and a missing persons docket was opened for investigation.
Police investigating the matter were suspicious after questioning the three friends and kept tabs on them. On Tuesday morning 4 February 2020, one of the victim’s friends was seen driving the victim’s vehicle at Gobandlovu and police swooped on his residence. They found the victim’s vehicle parked in the yard and when the friend was confronted he admitted to being involved in his disappearance.
The 23 year old man told the police that on the day of the incident he and his two friends set a trap for the victim. They dragged him into the bushes before they assaulted and stabbed him multiple times on the chest. They drove to Esikhaleni beach where they buried his body.
On Tuesday night the suspect led Esikhaleni police to the beach where Mondli’s body was recovered.
The suspect was then arrested and charged with murder. On the night of 5 February 2020, at 23:00, police arrested a further two suspects aged 23 and 28 at KwaNdaya Reserve and Nseleni for murder. They were also found in possession of the victim belongings. They are expected to appear in the Esikhaleni Magistrates Court.
“We are pleased with the breakthrough made by police at Esikhaleni and we know that our justice system will not fail the family. We hope that the recovery of the body and the arrest of the suspects will bring closure the family,” said the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
