KZN teacher and community activist assassinated a day before his birthday

A KwaZulu-Natal teacher and community activist fighting for a road to his community to be tarred has died in a hail of bullets in KwaNzimakwe a day before his birthday. 

Bibion Jaca, 45, a teacher from KwaNzimakwe, became involved in community activism two years ago. 

According to two sources who knew Jaca, his involvement is suspected to have led to his death on October 14. 

A friend who grew up with Jaca and still lives in KwaNzimakwe spoke to TimesLIVE Premium on condition of anonymity. 

“Bibion became involved in community activism because of water and quickly became a leading figure in the community,” the friend said.

“In 2021, the community had been without water since 2019, yet a main water pipe that supplied other communities ran right past us. Jaca played a key role in the negotiations under the name 'Phakama Nzimakwe Wethu — Rise up our KwaNzimakwe'.

“The Ugu municipality was gracious in its co-operation and supplied pipes so the community could be connected to the water mains.” 

Their success made them look for other problems to fix. 

“The N2 to the Eastern Cape passes by our village, but we have a 4.2km gravel road that connects to it. Every time it rains or floods our access to the outside world is washed away. We decided to address this issue,” the friend said.

It is alleged this led to displeasure from others tied to the road project.

“On the Wednesday before his murder Bibion told me he had been threatened on a few occasions, but he did not tell me by whom.” 

Another friend, who also asked to remain anonymous, said he suspects the threats had to do with the road issue. 

“When they started pushing for the road in 2021 the tensions started. The water issue was resolved peacefully. But as soon as they touched on the road construction some leading figures started becoming more aggressive.

“I do not have proof, so I cannot point out people,” the friend said. 

“Bibion was a good man who worked hard for other people. He was killed after visiting a shelter where he left donations. That is the sort of person they killed.

“It was the day before he would have turned 46, but for Bibion the caring and effort never stopped. The shelter houses the elderly and younger disabled people. Bibion was there with sanitary products for the latter and other donations. 

“I understand there was a woman we don’t know with him. They left and got in the car. The security guard on duty was on the other side of the building. He later told me he heard people screaming ‘get out of the car!’ several times. Then suddenly there were a lot of gunshots.” 

Jaca died on the scene, but the woman with him was taken to a clinic. 

“We have not spoken to her yet, but she has survived.”  

He says Jaca was hit multiple times.  

“When the police forensics team was there I counted more than 40 of those cones they place at each shell casing on the ground.”  

He believes there were two attackers. 

“According to the police, if you look at the size of the bullet holes in the car, there were two weapons used. One was a handgun and the other a rifle,” the friend said.  

Miranda Shusha, 33, is one of Jaca’s two sisters. 

“My brother’s death is a big loss,” she said. “Our sister and I have two children each. Bibion was the only breadwinner for all of us. We’ve lost everything. He was like a father, a mother and a brother to us. We have no words.” 

Ugu municipality spokesperson Zimbini Mpurwana said: “Though we may not be aware of the circumstances around the passing on of Jaca, as the municipality, we are saddened to hear of the incident as you have reported to us. May his soul rest in peace,” Mpurwana said.

KZN police spokesperson Const Thenjiswa Ngcobo could only confirm the incident. 

“Police in Port Edward are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder after an incident in which a man and a woman were shot in a vehicle on October 14 at Nzimakwe in Port Edward. The man was declared dead on the scene while the woman was taken to hospital for medical attention.”