Smugglers' aide shot dead in SA laid to rest

Beitbridge border post upgrade to cause delays for six weeks

Zim Now Writer

Mduduzi Mbulelo Mlilo, 23, who was shot dead by a South African soldier at Limpopo River for allegedly assisting border jumpers, was recently buried at Luveve cemetery in Bulawayo.

Mbulelo was reportedly assisting smugglers at an illegal crossing point on April 2 when the soldier shot him dead once in the breast.

He was among a group of 16 smugglers who were intercepted by South African soldiers at an illegal crossing point.

His body was taken to Tshilidzini Mortuary in Limpopo Province where it was kept pending police investigations.

The soldier who shot him has since been arrested and charged with murder and is set to stand trial at the Musina Regional Court on 15 May.

Mduduzi’s father, Dubayi Mlilo, expressed his devastation at his son’s death.

“My son was killed just like that. If they were really implementing the law, they could have arrested him and taken him to court. We have had an update from the police and we will follow the case with interest. We are quite saddened by this incident and we hope he will get justice,” he said.

Mlilo said according to witnesses, Mduduzi was shot while assisting people to smuggle an assortment of goods, mainly onions.

He said he was told that the soldier jumped from a vehicle and opened fire at Mduduzi while standing on the river bank.

He then fell into the water and his body was later retrieved and taken to the mortuary around 8 PM after lying on the riverbed for almost six hours.

On 15 February this year, a member of the South African Border Guard shot and killed a Zimbabwean man at Beitbridge Border Post.

The man was allegedly shot for reprimanding the Border Guards for assaulting an old woman who was picking up empty cans and plastic containers for recycling.

The incident occurred at the foot of the New Limpopo Bridge on the South African side of the border at around 4 AM.