Law graduate’s killers who shot him four times denied bail

By Jonk wa Mashamba
Editor-In-Chief

Euston Mnguni, 28, was shot four times and hijacked by clients he had picked up in Glen Austin, Midrand on 24 March, 2023.

His brother, Melithemba said the bullets hit his neck and chest before the criminals pushed him out of the car and drove off.

“He got up and tried to walk, but he fell and that was the end of him,” Melithemba told IOL.

When the suspects appeared before the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court yesterday, their application for bail was rejected and the case was postponed to Monday, April 17, 2023.

Reasons for denial are as follows: The accused have previous convictions; they have an ongoing cases of murder, house robbery and hijacking.

Melithemba told Alex Reporter that the suspect, Luyanda ‘Shorti’ Nomavayi, was arrested on the evening of 30 March 2023 at Ebony Park.

After he was arrested, critical information that was found at Shorti’s phone, led to further arrests of the other four suspects, namely Bukhosi Jnr Sithole (17), Mzwakhe Johannes Mselemu (34) and Mahlatsi Phuthi (28).

While the fifth suspect was yet to be profiled, the 6th suspect had reportedly ran to KZN.

The arrests of the five suspects took place the following day, Friday 31st March 2023 in Kaalfontein and Ivory Park, where the hijacked car was also recovered.

They are charged with hijacking and murder.

Melithemba, who is the family spokesperson and EPCO Secretary, cursed the criminals who killed his younger brother.

“They took a young innocent soul who had a bright future. And for that, they don’t deserve to be amongst the community.

“I curse them, they will not find peace. I, my family and the e-hailing industry, will do whatever it takes to see justice.”

Asked how the thugs were arrested, he said, “We got a tip-off from an anonymous person who had seen a Kia Rio for sale on a WhatsApp status of Shorti who runs a dodgy panel beating & used car parts Workshop in Ivory Park.

“After seeing the WhatsApp status (car photos) we realized it was indeed the same car.

“We then liaised with the police and thanks to the EPCO colleagues in government and provincial police, General Khumalo in particular, who played a pivotal role in getting the team of detectives that made the arrests of the suspects possible.”

Melithemba described his relationship with his slain brother as great.

“He stayed with me more than he stayed at our mother’s place, especially during his tertiary studies and after.

“I took care of his well-being and 20% of his studies financially. He also drove on my Uber fleet for some time.

“Lately, I reprimanded him for some of his decisions, particularly against driving on the Bolt platforms as I was concerned with safety considering how insecure it is as a platform.

“He was sneaking to it. Mind you, I was with him at his place and had a drink just the evening before he went missing,” he told our news team.

He said his family was devastated. “We had some hope when the arrests of suspects took place. However, the case’s proceedings are suspicious and hurting the family.

“There has been poor communication from the investigating officer to an extent that the family missed the suspects’ first appearance despite being us who gave the police the evidence that led to the arrests.

“The investigating officer failed to get the footage that captured the hijack incident.

“Neither has he requested cellphone information despite Bolt having offered to provide the necessary evidence.

“On Tuesday, we were ordered to leave the court room because amongst the suspects there’s a 17 years old.

“That didn’t sit well with my family and colleagues, mainly because we had been tipped off that the state hadn’t prepared anything to oppose bail.”

Euston stayed both with his cousin and “at my place since November 2021 when he left his job at a Boxer in Mpumalanga”.

In February this year he got his place in Allendale Ebony Park.

Pic supplied.