Retired policeman shot dead while trying to foil stock thieves

A retired Eastern Cape policeman was gunned down during a fierce battle with a group of gunmen believed to be stock thieves on Wednesday night.

The former captain, Maswazi Msindwana, was shot dead and his neighbour’s 50 livestock which he was trying to rescue were stolen.

Msindwana acted when he heard the community raising the alarm as animals were being stolen on Wednesday night at a KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere) village.

This happened hardly two months after a provincial traffic officer was shot and wounded and another stock owner was gunned down in Tsolo in April by people who came to steal the animals at their homes.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu on Thursday confirmed the fatal shooting of Msindwana.

“On Wednesday, at about 9.30pm, Maswazi Msindwana,  64,  was at his home in Mthombokazi village in the Thyhungwana administrative area in KwaBhaca  when he heard his neighbour calling community members to assist when stock theft occurred at his homestead.

“Msindwana followed the directions using the same route as the [culprits] with his  Volvo sedan.

“Msindwana was ambushed by the [thieves] and they shot at each other.

“He was later found lying dead about 50 metres away from his motor vehicle with four gunshot wounds,” Naidu said.

“His pistol was found next to his legs. His motor vehicle had multiple gunshots.

“According to  information, the deceased person was also a victim of stock theft. About 80 of his goats were stolen a few weeks ago.” 

Police are investigating a case of murder.

Local traditional leader Ayanda Makaula and Umzimvubu ward 25 councillor Nonceba Giwu said Msindwana was a dedicated crime fighter until his death.

“This was a man who even during his retirement continued to fight crime and was the go-to person in time of need,” Giwu said.

“He died like a hero. But it is sad to have people like him die at the time we need them the most.” 

Makaula was also one of Msindwana’s neighbours.

“He had recently had his livestock stolen. This affected us all. Last night, Msindwana died trying to rescue a neighbour’s livestock.

“In my village, they do not only steal livestock, but they come armed with guns and take them at gunpoint.

“It is robbery with aggravating circumstances, not a simple theft.

“They are ready to kill anybody blocking their way as they have done to Msindwana.

“He was committed to fighting crime, and he loved farming, especially livestock farming.

“We call upon police to make quick arrests,”  Makaula said.

Family spokesperson Zanodumo Maqhubela said they were distraught “especially since he was only three years into retirement”.

“This shows how sick  our society is. My cousin hated it and was dedicated to rooting it out.

“The gunmen ambushed him and shot him from all directions. The vehicle has bullets on all sides  and he was shot in the chest.

“He died fighting, he did not die like a coward.

“He died rescuing a neighbour’s livestock. He died a hero,”  Maqhubela said.

Msindwana’s wife died of Covid-related ailments in 2022.

“He died just a few months after his last born of three children had just graduated.

“Maswazi was a people’s person and the pillar of the family,”  Maqhubela said.

In April, an emerging farmer, Themba Madolo, 65, was shot dead in Ntshiqo village near Tsolo by rustlers who stole 30 sheep from his kraal.

A few days earlier, f Madolo was gunned down, provincial traffic officer Luphiwo Mkhondweni, 48, was wounded during a gunfight with six men.

They had come to steal his livestock at his home in the nearby Zingcuka village and managed to make off with  68 sheep and 24 goats.

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