A 23-year-old suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Nhlamulo Sambo has been released after the case was struck off the roll due to insufficient evidence. The incident occurred in Mossel Bay during recent unrest but police say it was unrelated. The suspect described a mob attack on the teenager.
The case against the man was due to be heard in the local magistrate’s court on Friday but was removed from the roll for lack of evidence. He had been arrested in connection with the killing of Nhlamulo Sambo. Police stated that preliminary investigations indicate the death was not linked to the violence that took place last weekend. That unrest left more than 50 shacks torched, hundreds of people displaced, and two Mozambican nationals dead. The released suspect said he was guarding a foreign national’s shack when he saw two teenagers running from it. He described joining a chase with others before the mob reached Sambo first, adding that he heard cries for forgiveness and was struck by a stone before fleeing. Sambo and another teenager had allegedly been confronted after looting a shack, leading to a fatal stabbing during the altercation.