Zungu ‘recognises’ shooter among 3 men linked to Joala murder
Johannesburg councillor Sthembiso Zungu has described it as traumatic seeing the men accused of shooting him and killing Rand Water executive Teboho Joala.
Zungu joined Joala’s family at the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where three out of four men linked to the brazen attack made their first court appearance.
The first suspect was arrested in March after he was found with the gun that is believed to be the murder weapon.
Zungu, who was shot in the shoulder and leg, spoke to the media following the postponement of the case to next Monday.
The men were escorted into the courtroom by police officers.
Accused one, Khulekani Mdluli, looked shell-shocked while his two co-accused (Zamokuhle Ntombela and Lindani Mtshali) faced down throughout the brief proceedings.
Zungu said while seeing the men brought back horrific memories, he recognised the alleged shooter.
“I saw him at first glance when he walked in. Remember, I looked at him, and he looked at me; then he shot at me.”
More than 70 children from various schools attended the event and witnessed the bloody attack.
At the time, the Gauteng Department of Education said they had dispatched officials to provide psychosocial support to the affected children and teachers.
A witness who had been attending the event said they feared there would be a stampede when everyone ran for cover.
READ: Shooter went straight for Joala, says witness
Zungu, who is the ward councillor for Ward 112, said many children were still struggling to recover from the traumatic incident.
“Being ambushed like that was just a terrible experience. We were ambushed in broad daylight in front of the kids. Even today, some of the kids have not recovered. One principal had to leave the school because he could not cope anymore.”
Zungu described how the gunman went straight for Joala and shot him at least eight times before trying to kill him.
He said they were ambushed.
“I only saw the shooter approaching the stage, and already he was shooting towards Teboho.
“I sat down there until he was done shooting…I stood up when I was shot in my leg, and I still asked this man ‘why’, and then he was going for my head. That’s when he shot me in my shoulder. I would say so. People are still saying that it was a miracle that I survived.”
Zungu believes he survived because the shooter either ran out of bullets or his gun jammed.
Pictures of the suspects, taken from screenshots of cell phone video footage of the shooting, were circulated shortly after the shooting.
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