Woza Afrika group founder and businessman, Manqoba Ntombela has been killed.
Ntombela, whose group, Woza Afrika, mesmerised music lovers in the country with the hit song, Istokvela fame, was murdered on Friday night outside his home, allegedly by spaza shop mafia in Ratanda, in Heidelberg, Gauteng.
The 62-year-old was a former school teacher and owned a spaza shop and minibus taxis in the area.
Ratanda is notorious for the killings of South African spaza shop owners, allegedly by foreign owners of similar businesses.
Ntombela’s daughter, Londiwe Ntombela, said that her father was shot dead outside his house. He had left his shop five houses away.
“My father left the shop just after 6pm and drove to his house, which is not far away from the store. My younger brother, who was in the house, heard the car stopping outside, and when he got out to open the gate, gunshots rang out, and he ran back into the house. After a few minutes, he went outside and found our dad shot in the car. We were called as we were at the shop, and when we reached the scene, he was still alive and we put him in one of the cars as we rushed him to hospital. We met the medical team along the way. It declared him dead after a failed resuscitation,” said Londiwe.
She said that it was sad that her father, who was a community leader and businessman, had lost his life in a shooting.
Londiwe said that her father was shot in the face while sitting in the car.
Londiwe said police told the family that they are doing their best to apprehend the killer.
The People’s Poet, Mzwakhe Mbuli, who was responsible for taking Woza Afrika to the Shell Road To Fame talent search competition, said that he was hurt that Ntombela was no longer around… how his life was ruthlessly taken.
“I am very hurt by the news that Manqoba is no more. He was running his spaza shop in Ratanda. There have been killings of spaza shop owners there, and Manqoba told me he feared that the same criminals would target him too. He told me that he was next in line to be murdered for owning spaza shops in the area, and today he is gone. It’s a very sad situation for me and those who loved him,” said Mbuli.
He stated that he will be meeting his family on Sunday to pay his respects to the fallen hero.
Ntombela’s murder sent shock waves across Ratanda.
Dudu Mabuye, a former member of Woza Afrika and local school principal, said: “We have lost a mentor and a father. When he started the group, we were all learners, and he pushed the band to new frontiers until we got an opportunity through Bhut’ Mzwakhe Mbuli, who took us to the Shell Road To Fame competition. I am still reeling from shock that bhut’ Manqoba is no more. We live in a dangerous country, where nobody knows when their last day on earth will be, as crime is rampant in our communities.”
Ntombela and Woza Afrika took the country by storm with their electrifying performances during their tour.
Londiwe said: “I am praying that those who killed him get arrested and face the music.”
This is a developing story.
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