Waste-removal services were plunged into darkness when a 54-year-old employee was gunned down during a waste-collection routine.
The motive for the killing remained unclear at the time of going to print, although speculation was rife that rivalry among cleaning groups was the cause.
According to reports, Makhosandile Ndzele was shot and killed while collecting the rubbish at Phase 2 C in Lower Crossroads on Tuesday 25 April.
Philippi East Police Station spokesperson Capt Granville Meyer said a murder case had been opened, but no arrest had been made.
In a statement the City said the deceased was employed by a service provider, and services to the area had been halted indefinitely.
According to City the cleaning arrangement was a temporary measure following expiration of the previous contract in June last year. “Interim arrangements using repurposed resources have been in place since this time, pending appointment of a new service provider,” its statement said.
Ndzele’s younger brother, Mashishini Ndzele, who was traumatised by the killing, described his brother as a family man and someone who was loved by the community.
“I’m heartbroken. I received this news on the evening of the same day of the incident.”
He added he was at his house in Site C.
“I was devastated. I still can’t believe my brother is no more”. Mashishini urged the police to leave no stone unturned.
He said the family was preparing for the funeral in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape. “As we are here we are meeting as family and church members for a service. His body will leave here on Thursday 11 May and the funeral will be on Saturday 13 May.”
According to the deceased’s co-worker Mthandeni Arosi threats were made against the cleaning group, but they did not take them seriously.
“According to the information I received from one of my co-workers, who also worked with Makhosandile, women who worked for the previous company said they would see just how long [he and his co-workers] would work in the area, but they said they did not take such remarks seriously.”
He said it seemed as if the culprits were following and tracking them.
“Samora Machel is very dangerous. After we left the area we assumed we were a little bit safer. But it seems the culprits were following us all the way until they decided to pull the trigger here in Lower Crossroads.”
Arosi said Ndzele was shot and killed doing what he loved the most. He described the deceased as a humble person with a sense of humour.
“I worked with Ndzele for 14 years and we were so close. He was shot multiple times in his upper body, including in his head. He was shot by two guys who drove a bakkie. They fled the scene after that.”
He added the group had since stopped working.
Ward 36 councillor Nceba Ntshweza said he knew the deceased well, described him as a “humorous” person.
“He was affectionately known as Mabheka in the community,” he said.
“His death is a loss not only to his family but to the community at large.”
Ntshweza urged the police to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.
Makhosandile leaves behind his wife and three children.