By Naziziphowo Buso
ANC councillor Lunga Nombexeza made a brief appearance at the KwaNobuhle Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face an attempted murder charge, but has to wait until Tuesday for his official bail application.
Nombexeza allegedly fired several shots at Lukhanyo Mdana, 42, while he was driving down Pityana Street in KwaNobuhle at about 11.45pm on Saturday.
Nombexeza was arrested just minutes later after Mdana drove away and reported the alleged shooting to metro police officers patrolling nearby.
The SA Communist Party district secretary indicated he would use his private attorney. The state intends to oppose bail.
Dressed in a yellow sweater and jeans, Nombexeza seemed unmoved by the shouting of “Nobhala” by fellow ANC councillor Rosie Diaaminds as he entered the courtroom.
Police spokesperson Col Priscilla Naidu said Mdana was driving a Toyota Tazz to Pityana Street in KwaNobuhle when “at the corners of Pityana and Kinikini streets, he saw the suspect coming out of the yard with a firearm in his possession. The suspect fired several shots at the complainant’s car. No injuries were sustained”.
Naidu said the complainant drove away and stopped metro police officials in the street and reported the matter.
Metro police officials went back to the crime scene and the complainant pointed out the house. A firearm was thrown out of the window of the house.
“The suspect was apprehended by metro police officials who handed him over to police on their arrival.”
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani said the motive for the shooting was still unknown.
Daaminds, who donned SACP regalia to attend court proceedings, referred questions to party spokesperson Luzuko Pukwana about her presence in the courtroom
Even though you saw me in court this morning supporting Nombexeza, I am not supporting him as an individual because as a party we want to know what went wrong.
“We don’t say this thing that he has done is right or wrong because it’s now already in the hands of the law.
“We want to know what went wrong, why did he do that because he knows the policies and the constitution of the Communist Party,” she said.
Pukwana said they were concerned about the “serious” allegations against Nombexeza.
“We note the incident and we sent our leaders to ascertain what happened from the horse’s mouth so that we are in a position to take a view,” he said.
“We will ascertain, today exactly what happened from his lawyers.”
The court transferred the matter to the Uitenhage B court, with Nombexeza being remanded in jail.
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