Police Minister Bheki Cele has pointed the finger at the death of a cop on the statement made by Ukhozi FM radio host Zimiphi “Zimdollar” Biyela.
Zimdollar slammed the police for being trigger happy last month after the death of a man suspected of being involved in the murder of five men at a mall’s parking lot in Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal. Zimdollar blasted the SAPS National Intervention Unit (NIU) live on radio last month after Nkululeko Mkhize was shot and killed in a shoot-out with the police at his home in Zimbali Resort. Zimdollar, who hosts a midday show Sgiya Ngengoma with King Sifiso, accused the police of being trigger happy.
She made the comments following Mkhize’s death. Mkhize was known to be very close to one of her brothers and taxi boss, Vika Biyela. “The thing is, the police always have a reason why they shoot and kill suspects. If they shoot people, they come back and claim that they were being shot at. Why are they always shot at? We are not children there is an order issued for cops to kill people. Innocent people end up dying,” she said live on air. She went on to blame the police for the deaths of her two brothers, whom she claims were also killed by members of NIU. “I lost my brothers because of the NIU. It has become a norm for the NIU to shoot and kill. Every time they kill, they justify their action by saying that they are defending themselves,” she added. The SAPS in the province filed a complaint with the SABC regarding Zimdollar’s statement.
On Saturday, Cele attacked Zimdollar for the statement and said she gave criminals an order to shoot and kill members of the NIU. Cele was speaking during the funeral of Warrant Officer Sithembiso Mazibuko, who was shot and killed alleged by criminals during a shoot-out last week Tuesday. Mazibuko was part of the police’s, NIU which deals with serious criminal cases. Mazibuko and his team acted on intelligence they had received about the location of wanted suspects including one that was linked to 12 murders of the public police forum members.
“There is this woman called Zimdollar. She went on air and criticised the NIU for shooting and killing criminals. She was basically giving orders to the criminals to shoot and kill members of the NIU. Today we are gathered here to bury one our members who was shot and killed by criminals.”
“This is because of Zimdollars mandated them as she went on air and gave instructions to criminals to shoot and kill our members. She must be excited that today we are burying one of our members who was shot and killed by notorious thugs,” Cele said. Attempts to get Zimdollar’s comment failed as her phone went straight to voicemail.”