Durban - The family of a man who was killed allegedly by police officer, Sergeant Ayanda Ntombela, from the Mariannhill Police Station last month is hoping that the accuse will be denied bail when he makes his application at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
This follows the discovery of the decomposing body of Sihle Mtshare, 27, from Kwa Santi in Pinetown, which was found stuffed inside a stormwater pipe.
Mtshare, a father of one child, disappeared after he was taken in for questioning by Ntombela, on August 21.
According to a family member who requested not to be named due to fear of victimisation, the family came to know about Mtshare’s disappearance the following day.
“His uncle informed us on Monday morning that he was arrested by a police officer the day before. They did not know the name of the police officer or why Sihle was arrested, but that he was from the Mariannhill police station, as it was branded on the police vehicle that he was driving,” she said.
She said that the family began searching for him at the Mariannhill police station, but were told that Mtshare’s name was not on the list of arrests made that Sunday. They were advised to search at other police stations.
The relative added that they returned to the Mariannhill police station the next day to probe further with the other officers on duty. They agreed to having worked the night before, but said they had no record of such an arrest.
On Wednesday August 24, the family took to Facebook, requesting for the public’s assistance in finding Mtshare.
They got a breakthrough when a man who saw the Facebook post told the family that he had seen Mtshare at the Mariannhill police station in handcuffs.
“He said that Mtshare came in with another policeman who requested that his colleagues keep an eye on Mtshare, as he would be back later to fetch him,” she said.
She said that she fetched the witness and he positively identified the suspect, who initially denied the allegations.
The investigation was taken over by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), and they located the deceased’s body in Camperdown two weeks later.
Mtshare’s relative said that he was found in a water pipe.
“The officer responsible had even forgotten which particular pipe it was, to an extent that the assistance of the sniffer dogs was required. He was rotting away with bugs crawling all over him,” she said.
Phumzile Mtshare, the victim’s aunt said that they hoped justice would prevail.
“The suspect must not get bail and we hope the case is not handled by people he has worked with before. We really hope it is handled by people who do not know him at all,” she said.
Mtshare was buried on Saturday in Luganda, Pinetown.
He was described as a peaceful person who loved to laugh, enjoyed spending time alone and focused on his future.
Lizzy Suping, spokesperson for Ipid, confirmed that a formal bail hearing would take place tomorrow.
“The accused officer will remain in custody until the next court appearance,” she said.
Ntombela was charged for kidnapping and murder.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE