Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Following a kaleidoscope of unbelievable events unfolding, Newcastle’s South African Police Service (SAPS) was approached to respond to a shocking report from a Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal based resident.
While most people enjoyed a tranquil Thursday evening on 24 June 2021, Mdudzi Ndaba’s family experienced a barrage of attacks at the hands of a highly motivated and creative individual. Mdudzi explains, “I went to Madadeni on the Thursday, to assist with my sister’s lobola negotiations and left my wife and children at home. On the Friday morning, my sister and mom said my wife had tried to call me during the night.”
Upon checking his phone and contacting his wife, Ndaba learned that his family had narrowly escaped death. He states that a man known to them had started harassing the household on Thursday night, not too long after Ndaba had left.
This was only the beginning as the man then turned his attention to bombing the house with bricks. Afterwhich, he broke into the premises and psychotically killed the family’s pet rabbit before hanging the poor animal on a fence. The enraged suspect then broke all the taps in the yard, leaving his grand finally of setting their car light for last.
Ndaba remarks, “The man who lives with us had gone to the toilet and when he came out of the bathroom, he saw the flames. He immediately woke everyone up and the fire station was contacted for assistance.”
Following this, according to Ndaba, it was at this time that the police came out, taking a statement from his wife. During the process, she stressed that they knew who the culprit was and urged the police to locate him, as the family believed he was still in Trim Park, near their home.
Nevertheless, shortly after the officers left, the determined man returned, trashing yet another vehicle. However, this time he came prepared, pouring a concoction of cement and oil over the car and into the petrol tank before breaking various parts—even going as far as to urinate in the vehicle. Just before leaving, he told the family, he was not done with them or their household.
The SAPS were called once again. The family explains that the police came out and picked up Ndaba’s brother-in-law and briefly drove around Trim Park. The police then dropped Ndaba’s brother-in-law off, claiming they would return after refuelling their vehicle. According to Ndaba, the officers never returned.
Elevating the seriousness of the situation, the suspect returned to the scene, where he carefully watched the comings and goings of the family. It reached a point whereby on Thursday afternoon, 1 July 2021, Ndaba’s brother-in-law saw the man near the home, and the family immediately contacted the police. However, the police did not respond, and the family decided to pursue him instead.
During the chase, several community members assisted in capturing the suspect near the Farmer’s Hall. “There was a police vehicle patrolling the area and they saw the chase and stopped to help,” Ndaba says.
It was only then that the man was taken into custody, an entire week after he had unleashed havoc on the household. And despite all of the above, according to the family, there are still issues at hand. This involves the SAPS not taking fingerprints at the crime scene, where the man had vandalised Ndaba’s car. As well as little explanation of why they did not return to the household after allegedly going to refuel their vehicle.
Ndaba also points out that if the police had done their work correctly and pursued the suspect after burning the first vehicle and killing their pet rabbit, the whole situation could have been avoided. He adds, “My car would not have been vandalised, and I need it to transport my disabled son to the hospital if he is ill. Also, the car which was burned is right next to the house, if my house had caught alight, who would have saved my son?”
He feels the police have indeed failed him and his family, placing their lives in jeopardy.
When questioned on the situation, the Newcastle Police gave vague, at times, off the path answers. Regarding why the police have not taken fingerprints in over a week, the Newcastle SAPS Communications Department merely stated that the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) was informed to attend and failed to give further explanation as to why this was not followed upon.
According to the Ndaba, by Monday morning, 5 July 2021, the SAPS had still not come to take fingerprints.
As to why the police were not communicating with the family and what steps they were taking to resolve the matter, the SAPS claimed, the family was consulted on 29 June 2021 and given feedback. However, yet again, they failed to elaborate on what steps were being taken and failed to provide further feedback on the lack of communication since then. Ndaba denies the police gave any form of feedback.
When questioned why the Newcastle SAPS had not investigated the suspect after the first vehicle had been burned down, even though the family gave them valid reasons for their suspicions, the police merely shirked the question off and said he was in custody—offering no further response. The only reason the suspect is in custody, as Ndaba points out, is due to his brother-in-law and others chasing the man down.
With the family and the community as a whole losing faith in the Newcastle SAPS, the police were questioned on how they could assure the public that the SAPS has the community’s best interests at heart—being a truly valid and required question, to which the Newcastle SAPS Communications Department refused to answer, claiming the matter regarding the incident that happened at Ndaba’s household had been remanded to 2 July 2021, and the complainant would be notified of the trial date. Ndaba said he was not notified that the matter was remanded until the said date.
With all the above in mind, what are your thoughts?
Share your views in the comment section below.
RELATED NEWS
- Hutten Heights burglary victim receives no joy from police—SAPS rebuttals
- Accountability time, Newcastle SAPS and petty crime addressed
- Nigerians storm Newcastle SAPS, after drug dealer allegedly overdoses
- Newcastle and Madadeni SAPS make top 30 for crimes reported out of 1154 police stations
- SAPS Forensic labs backlogged by 208 291 cases—Cele apologises
