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ANGRY MOB BURNS GAME RANGER’S HOUSE

By KWANELE SIBIYA | 2024-11-27

A game ranger’s house was reduced to ashes, allegedly by a livid mob of Manzana residents who accused him of having a hand in the shooting and killing of a resident on Friday.

The ranger was allegedly killed after he was suspected of poaching at a farm that rears animals such as (impala) an antelope and bushbucks (imbabala).

It is said, first to be approached by the angry community members was a former ranger who was accused by the angry residents of having been shooting residents of the area from as far back as 2008 whom he suspected of poaching.

The incident happened at Manzana under the Madlangempisi Constituency on Monday afternoon.
The mob was allegedly angered after Lucky Magagula (30) from Manzana was on Friday allegedly shot and killed by rangers from the farm situated at Tshaneni.

“They opened fire after suspected him of poaching in the farm,” a source claimed.
Coincidentally, the game ranger Elias Magagula whose rondavel house was gutted down was related to the deceased.

Elias, it is claimed, warned Lucky three days before his death never to set his foot in the farm ever again because if he ever did, he would shoot and kill him.

Following the threats and the subsequent death of Lucky, the residents accused Elias of having a hand in the death of the young man, accusing him of shooting and killing him.

Taking the law into their own hands, the residents who were armed with an assortment of weapons while baying for Elias’s blood, are alleged to have searched for him at his home.

“Fortunately enough, he was not there. As a result, they retaliated by torching his house which was quickly reduced into ashes as it had a thatched roofing, which accelerated the intensity of the fire.

Residents
Before torching Elias’ house, the livid residents searched for the former ranger identified as Ticucwana Mahlobo, as he was accused of also shooting and killing residents of the area in the past couple of years while he was still an active ranger on allegations of poaching,” the source alleged.

The source claimed that because of his alleged previous ‘deeds’, the residents searched for Mahlobo until they located him.

Upon apprehending him, they allegedly assaulted him with different weapons, including bushknives.

He was allegedly saved by the prompt arrival of the police officers, who were tipped by concerned members of the public upon witnessing the mob assault.

Upon their arrival, the police are said to have then dispersed the mob before rushing Mahlobo to Dvokolwako Health Centre, where he was admitted.

Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) Inspector Lwazi Ndzimandze confirmed all the incidents.

He said a man was shot and killed at Tshaneni on Friday following allegations of poaching.
He added that a ranger’s house was torched at Manzana while a former one was assaulted by a mob in the same area.

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