‘Why kill the peacemaker?’ asks anguished brother of slain officer

A KwaZulu-Natal police officer, Warrant Officer Roger Mavundla, 49, who was ambushed and shot dead while in the company of his partner and three children, has been described as a harmoniser who was popular in the community.

This is according to his older brother, Bhekisisa Mavundla.

Mavundla was shot metres from the house he shared with his partner, Khanyisile Mthuli, 39, on Saturday.

Her daughter Siyamthanda Mthuli, 10 died and her younger daughter, Simthandile, 7, is fighting for her life in hospital. Mavundla’s son Thando, 17, also died.

On Tuesday police minister Bheki Cele, his deputy Cassel Mathale, national commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola and provincial commisoner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi visited the crime scene in KwaNzimakwe. The area was dotted with remnants of car oil on the sandy driveway.

"We have been dealt a heavy blow. We are torn," Mavundla said.

He said their grief had cut through the close-knit community in Margate as his brother's love and dedication knew no bounds.

"He was a harmoniser. He had that gift of disarming people so they reconcile amicably," said Mavundla.

He said they were shocked by the tragedy as his brother had never shared anything about his life being in danger.

He called for police to fast-track their investigation process. "We need to find closure and come to terms with this reality. We also need to find out what my brother had done to deserve dying in such a callous way."

He said his brother had always harboured ambitious to reach the highest pinnacle of his career. "He had his ideas as to what he wanted by a certain age," said Mavundla.

The officer's career started in 1999 when he underwent training. 

Mavundla said the pressure which often comes with the job had never changed his brother's congeniality. "I knew nothing about what happens in the life of a police officers, but through closeness with my brother I learnt a thing or two."

Cele said the surge in the number of police officers being killed was worrisome. He said the Mavundla case had highlighted a new trend where police were killed with their families. He said they were concerned the life of the deceased's partner and their children were also at risk, saying this would give police further impetus to make a breakthrough in the case.

Police had appointed members of the Hawks to find the culprits, he said. "We cannot go into details at this stage. They have already met with the family. We hope there will be full cooperation. The killer would have to explain why he ended up doing this."

He said the killing of Mavundla was different as he was killed at his doorstep, which is not a normal trend. "It would seem they were tailing Mavundla. Usually criminals take care identifying where they will commit a crime. This was not the case here," said Cele.

He said he was told Mavundla was well-liked and worked hard.

South African Police Union provincial secretary Nurse Mdletshe said it was concerning government could not protect members of the police force. She said more than 10 years ago they had made a submission for parliament to enact a law to make the killing of police a crime of treason.

She accused the government of being quick to charge police officers but not to help them.

Last week Masemola led a team of mourners who buried Sgt Simphiwe Nyawo, who was killed in a foiled cash-in-transit heist in Jozini in KwaZulu-Natal.