Hazyview: Alleged rhino poaching kingpin’s sister brutally murdered
A woman who is reportedly late alleged rhino poaching kingpin chief Clyde Mnisi was gunned down in a hail of bullets in Hazyview.
Police in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, are investigating a case of murder with an additional charge of attempted murder after the late alleged rhino poaching kingpin chief Clyde Mnisi’s sister was killed in a hail of bullets.
The 35-year-old woman was fatally shot while a male person sustained some injuries, and the horrific incident occurred on Thursday, 6 June, around 17:55.
ALLEGED RHINO POACHING KINGPIN’S SISTER KILLED IN HAZYVIEW
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Colonel Donald Mdhluli said according to a report, the police were informed then attended a shooting incident that occurred in the late afternoon at a certain food restaurant in Hazyview.
Mdhluli said it is alleged that two armed males descended from a silver-grey Toyota Etios with Gauteng registration plates.
The two suspects allegedly opened fire, injuring a male passenger, while the female driver tragically succumbed to her injuries and was certified dead by the paramedics at the scene.
Mdhluli said some empty cartridges from a rifle and a pistol were found at the scene.
“The motive for the shooting is unknown at this stage and will form part of the Police investigation.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that the vehicle that the suspects allegedly used could have been the one that was reportedly stolen or hijacked recently in Bushbuckridge on 21 May,” he added.
WHEN WAS CHIEF CLYDE MNISI MURDERED?
In March 2023, chief Clyde Mnisi from Bohlabela in the Ehlanzeni District was gunned down next to Kruger-Mpumalanga International (KMI) Airport in an apparent hit.
The incident occurred on Airport Road near White River.
Mpumalanga police said Mnisi’s driver sustained some injuries on the leg after being shot during this incident. However, he survived.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said that, according to a report, Chief Mnisi and his driver were travelling in a Toyota Avanza when they had a puncture.
While waiting for assistance, it is alleged that a group of about five heavily armed men wearing balaclavas and gloves came in a BMW X5. They then alighted from the vehicle with high calibre rifles and went straight to the passenger side, where the 37-year-old Chief was seated.
Chief Mnisi’s widow was also brutally gunned down in their family home, just two days after his burial. According to reports, two other people related to the late chief were allegedly brutally murdered.
Following the incident, Mnisi’s family insisted that his murder was not related to the alleged rhino poaching.