‘Murder linked to tender deal’

the family of slain businessman and umkhonto wesizwe (mk) veteran mthunzi nkonki is convinced he was assassinated and believe his murder is linked to a corrupt tender deal.
makhosandile nkonki , mthunzi’s older brother, said he believed 40-year old mthunzi had been murdered by a person whom he “trusted” and knew well.
nkonki said the murder was not, as some people alleged, a robbery by a “cheap” thug from duncan village where mthunzi lived.
“he was murdered by a person that he once laughed with, a person whom he trusted so much that he opened his door and security gates in the early hours of that morning and took him to his bedroom,” said nkonki.
“the murderer is not a stranger and is among the mourners.”
he said the death of mthunzi had been orchestrated by corrupt people who did not want to be exposed for their wrongdoing.
“we think we know the individuals who are behind this assassination but that is for police to investigate.”
“these people wanted him dead because he was telling the truth.
“the person who was hired (to kill him) was a well-trained military person like mthunzi.”
nkonki said his brother was shot at close range in the head and body.
“two shots hit him and he was dead,” he said. “the murderer pretended to be looking for a wheel spanner and he knew exactly that my brother would turn his back when taking this tool from the top of his wardrobe.”
mthunzi, a civil engineer, was managing director of fns engineering, and his murder shocked the community. at the time of his death he had lodged a complaint with the office of the premier (otp) alleging corruption in a tender award to upgrade roads in the great kei municipality.
the otp transferred the matter to the local government department where an anti-corruption unit was tasked to look into the allegations.
after mthunzi was killed, a case of murder was opened at duncan village police station but it was later transferred to the hawks. hawks spokesperson musa zondi confirmed they were looking into the matter.
mthunzi’s business partner, mthuthuzeli mveni, told the dispatch they were considering hiring a private investigator to assist them.
“we will see what police will do, otherwise we are ready to use an independent investigator to assist us,” he said.
mk veterans’ association provincial secretary bandile ketelo said mthunzi’s death had the markings of assassination.
“before his death, (mthunzi) did give us information about what is happening within that municipality and we are willing to assist the police with any information we have.”
“we trust that the police will bring the suspects to book very soon.”

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