[imagesource:wikicommons]

Five members of an alleged construction mafia gang were abducted and tortured before being killed after they attempted to muscle in on a lucrative construction project in Tshwane.

The men, who are alleged to be members of the infamous Boko Haram gang operating in Mamelodi, were ‘ambushed’ when they rocked up at the Bronkhorstspruit site last Monday to disrupt work taking place on the R568.

According to reports, the construction crew were warned of their arrival and the alleged extortionists did not even have time to lay out their demands before being taken away, tortured for 11 hours, and then murdered. Their bodies were discovered in Cullinan the next day.

The five men – Eric Sibiya, Siphiwe Sibeko, Bheki Chauke, Kgala Phathi and Gladwin Maphanga – are believed to be part of a gang of 12 who, according to News24, wanted to demand a 30% stake in the project.

According to sources, the gang was informed by a ‘government official’ that the project had been approved, and that it would be easy pickings as no security had been allocated to the site. Based on their informant’s information, the gang planned to muscle in on the money by insisting on providing said security, at a cost.

“[The official] told them to go to Bronkhorstspruit and demand that the project be halted … and when that happens, they will install a security company which will allow them to get a 30% share of the project.”

Unbeknownst to the extortionists, someone else tipped the construction crew off.

“It appears as though someone contacted the people working on the project in Bronkhorstspruit and warned them a group of guys from Mamelodi were on their way to demand a stake.”

“These guys were not there for a long time, maybe they were there for about five minutes before they were taken. They did not even have time to make their demands. They were then taken somewhere and brutally tortured for about 11 hours.”

According to the source, the men were electrocuted, had their fingernails pulled out, and suffered broken bones as they were apparently tortured to reveal the identity of the official who tipped them off.

“They were then shot, killed and their bodies were dumped in Cullinan. They didn’t have a chance of surviving.”

It is believed the rest of the Boko Haram gang have now gone to ground, fearing retaliation for attempting to encroach on the construction project. “Mamelodi is now quiet because members of Boko Haram have gone to ground. They’re hiding because they do not know what information those guys in Bronkhorstspruit have and what they intend to do with it.”

It is believed the gang ventured outside of their usual extortion grounds as the only two projects in Mamelodi had been halted, leaving them no option but to seek ‘opportunities’ elsewhere.

Ward councillor Kgaogelo Phiri, who was present at the launch of the R568 refurbishment project on 16 May, told News24 he received a message last week about disruptions related to the project but was not given any details.

“I don’t know what those people demanded, but I heard they were not there for a long time.”

“The project has created a lot of job opportunities. It’s a very positive thing and we are grateful for it.”

Gauteng police have confirmed the killings, saying a case of five counts of murder has been opened after the dead bodies of five males were discovered in an open field riddled with gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made so far.

[source:news24]