Ladysmith residents took cover as a volley of shots rang out when uThukela District employee, Jimmy Mbatha, 52, was recently gunned down in broad daylight. The ‘senseless’ murder of Mbatha, a superintendent in the Water, Sanitation and Technical Services department, has shocked his colleagues and friends. Mbatha had been employed by the uThukela District for 29 years.
He was shot a number of times on Queen Street on Friday afternoon, 14 May. Mbatha was apparently accosted by two unknown suspects, who opened fire on him while he was sitting inside his vehicle. He sustained a gunshot wound to the chin, three gunshot wounds to the top of the head, one in the centre of his chest and one to the left of his chest. The vehicle was riddled with gunshots. “What is even more shocking is that the incident occurred in broad daylight in the parking lot of a busy shopping centre in the central business district on Queen Street,” said uThukela District Municipal Mayor Siphiwe Mazibuko. Eyewitness told the police that they had to duck for cover as several shots were fired. Mazibuko said as the investigation was still in its infancy the motive for the killing was not yet known. We urge all affected parties to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. Police are canvassing multiple nearby businesses and are hopeful the crime was caught on numerous surveillance cameras in the area,” said Mazibuko.
Many who had known Mbatha shared their condolences and grief on social media. “It is with great sorrow and excruciating pain that the uThukela District Municipality has learnt about the senseless murder of its employee. It is our hope that the police will leave no stone unturned to find the perpetrators of such a heinous crime and bring them to justice. Our prayers and condolences go out to the Mbatha family, friends, colleagues and cadres during this testing and difficult time,” said Mazibuko.
