Thread by @julianrademeyer

1/ Alleged Mpumalanga crime boss Clyde Mnisi, described as one of the “kingpins” in a “massive trafficking network of poached rhino horn” from @SANParksKNP, was shot dead early this morning. More on Mnisi in my recent @ENACT_Africa report enactafrica.org/research/resea…

2/ In what was described as a “glittering” coronation ceremony last October just west of Kruger National Park near Bushbuckridge, Mnisi became a chief: timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/o…

3/ Mnisi, together with Hazyview crime boss Petros Sydney Mabuza, AKA Mshengu, and a notorious ex-cop and alleged murderer, “Big Joe” Nyalunga, were arrested in a police operation code-named Project Broadbill in September 2018.

4/ Four more suspects were arrested, including former Skukuza police station commander, Capt Phineas Lubisi; Aretha Mhlanga, a constable at Skukuza; Claude Lubisi, a former Calcutta police station constable; and Rachel Qwebana, a constable in Acornhoek

5/ They were charged with a variety of crimes, including theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, illegal buying and selling of rhino horns, corruption, money-laundering and racketeering.

6/ In June 2021 Mabuza, better known by his clan name, Mshengu, was murdered by three gunmen as he held court in his orange double-cab bakkie outside the Lowveld Mall in Hazyview.

7/ Mshengu was reputed to have been involved in cash-in-transit heists, taxi industry protection rackets, loansharking and extortion. He also had a long history of involvement in rhino poaching in Kruger dating to the early 2000s.

8/ Mshengu’s funeral saw crowds of mourners gathered to sing his praises and condemn those who said he was a criminal. His casket, draped in leopard skin, was ferried to the gravesite by helicopter. You can find video of it here:

9/ Mnisi, and the other accused in the rhino horn case, including “Big Joe” Nyalunga, were set for trial in the Mbombela High Court next month. Mnisi’s murder will likely cause a postponement.

10/ Nyalunga (pictured) is also set to stand trial for the murder of a neighbour and Eskom employee, Willy Shipalane, in 2010. Shipalane was beaten to death, his corpse weighted down with concrete blocks and dumped into the Inyaka Dam near Bushbuckridge.

11/ In March 2020, Lieutenant-Colonel Leroy Brewer, the lead Hawks investigator in cases involving Nyalunga, Mshengu and Mnisi, was ambushed and killed by gunmen as he drove to work in Mbombela nyti.ms/42Acl2m

12/ Mpumalanga exists in a corrosive landscape of fear where organised crime is deeply entrenched. There have been other targeted killings, including that of Timbavati head ranger, Anton Mzimba. Nobody has been arrested for his murder. news24.com/news24/southaf…

13/13 Find out more in ‘Landscape of Fear - Crime, corruption and murder in Greater Kruger’ enactafrica.org/research/resea…

New reports indicate Mpumalanga crime boss Clyde Mnisi was assassinated just after midnight by four gunmen armed with assault rifles. They shot him multiple times after the car he was travelling in had a flat tyre on the Kruger Mpumalanga airport road.

The hitmen were apparently wearing balaclavas and gloves and one of them reportedly said to Mnisi, “We got you. We told you that we will find you.” Then they opened fire.

The driver of the Avanza Mnisi was travelling in was shot in the leg. A female passenger and a security guard who was helping change their tyre was unhurt.