Tender dispute linked to murder of worker at M4 construction site in Durban, claims contractor

Thulasizwe Ntuli was shot dead on Thursday night while guarding a company site responsible for the construction on the M4 north between Westbrook and Boys Town.


14-05-2024
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News 24
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  • A construction worker was shot dead at a site along the M4 north in eThekwini. 
  • His murder is believed to be linked to ongoing tensions surrounding a tender dispute. 
  • KwaZulu-Natal police are investigating a case of murder.


An ongoing alleged targeted sabotage of a company contracted for the multimillion-rand M4 upgrade near Westbrook in Durban has turned fatal, with a worker being shot dead at the construction site.



Thulasizwe Ntuli was shot dead on Thursday night while guarding a company site responsible for the construction on the M4 north between Westbrook and Boys Town. 



The road had been closed after it was damaged by floods, with Sanral appointing Thelbridge Enterprise (PTY) Ltd in October 2023 to restore it.



The contractor, Sihle Buthelezi, who is Ntuli's cousin, alleged his murder was linked to an ongoing dispute, saying his competitors were unhappy when he was awarded the tender. 



There had also been a series of thefts at the site, "aimed to sabotage my operation and delay the completion of the project", he claimed.



Buthelezi told News24 that Ntuli and two other security guards were at the site's storage area when five heavily-armed men stormed in and pointed firearms at them. 



He said the assailants then tied them up inside a mobile toilet before they proceeded to take the wheels off one of his trucks. 



"While they were busy taking off the wheels, Ntuli managed to free himself and started freeing others.



"The suspects heard there was some movement inside the toilets and decided to go there. I'm told that a fight ensued, and the suspects opened fire and shot my cousin."



Buthelezi said the suspects then ran away.



"Yes, they failed to take the wheels, but the problem is that we lost more than that, we lost a life. The other workers are really traumatised because he died right before their eyes.



He added:



We, as a family, are really heartbroken about this. No words can describe the pain we are in right now.



When he arrived at the scene, he said, he found Ntuli lying in a pool of blood.



Buthelezi viewed this as "clear sabotage", saying this was not the first time his site was attacked. 



He accused competitors of being behind the sabotage.



"We are always being attacked and have stuff stolen, and it has become clear to us that it's people who don't want to see us finish the project.



"We have also engaged with the business forums in the area to try and understand the issue, but they too are on our side which makes it hard to understand who the people behind all this are," he said. 



Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said they were saddened by the killing.



"Sanral and our contractor, Thelbridge Enterprise, extend our heartfelt condolences to the deceased's family, friends and colleagues.



"We wish them strength during this difficult period," said Mona.



He said they were made aware of the incident, and an investigation was under way.



He said Sanral would only be in a position to comment further once the investigation was completed.



"We are working closely with the contractor and the law enforcement agencies to bring the culprits to book. The safety of all workers on our sites is of paramount importance to Sanral and we always strive to ensure that work is implemented in an environment that is free from criminality," Mona said. 



The contractor is responsible for providing security at the site. 



Sanral requested the contractor to urgently identify additional security measures to be in place to ensure the safety of the site team, said Mona.



KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Tongaat police were investigating Ntuli's death. 



Netshiunda added that the other victims were robbed of their belongings, including two firearms. 

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