While many Grahamstonians were on Sunday morning only barely starting to recover from hosting yet another successful National Arts Festival, word started spreading about the shocking murder of a young local politician, who was killed for his cellphone.
While many Grahamstonians were on Sunday morning only barely starting to recover from hosting yet another successful National Arts Festival, word started spreading about the shocking murder of a young local politician, who was killed for his cellphone.
The murder of 24-year-old Oscar Dondashe, the secretary of the ANC Youth League in the Cacadu region, took place in the early hours of the morning in V Street in Tantyi and left many local politicians shocked and others speechless. It is believed that Dondashe was on his way home from Dinangwe, a popular tavern in Tantyi, when a gang of armed robbers attacked him.
ARCHIVE VIDEO: Dondashe slates COPE
According to Grahamstown police spokesperson Captain Ndivelafhi Mamuthubi, Dondashe was approached by a group of people at 04h50 in the morning who asked him to hand over his cellphone. “The deceased resisted handing over his cellphone and one of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot him dead on the spot,” he said.
He added that four suspects aged between the ages of 18 and 34 were arrested on Sunday afternoon in connection with the murder. He could not say when the suspects would be appearing in court or whether more arrests could be expected. Ntombekhaya “Zanky” Mahlahla, the ANC secretary in Makana, said that since hearing the “devastating news” she has not recovered from the shock. She did not comment on the loss to her party as she was out of town and had not discussed the matter with other party leaders.
Young Communist League convenor in the Cacadu district, Khotso Moleli also refrained from commenting. However, he said the party would release a statement as soon as they have gathered more information on the matter. Dumi Zono, Congress of the People spokesperson in Cacadu, said that Makana politics will never be the same without Dondashe. “It is sad for local politics to lose such a vibrant, dynamic young lion,” he said.
Dondashe’s uncle, Eric, said the family has been so bereft that Oscar’s parents had to consult a doctor to be treated for shock.
Speaking during an interview in the Grocott’s Mail newsroom, Eric said: “They collapsed upon breaking the sad news to me.” Eric owns Jucy Shop in Extension 3 and said that Oscar was “very attached to the family” and that he would not go to bed without checking how his parents were doing. He also said that Oscar and his cousins used to hang out together and were known as “the Dondashe brothers” and would visit Eric at his place frequently to discuss business developments and to talk about their personal problems. Oscar is the third child in the family and leaves behind both his parents and four siblings.
He also could not say when the funeral will be held as the family had not discussed the matter yet. ANC Youth League member Lungile Klaas, who was close to Oscar, said that it was a “sad day” for the youth league and a great loss for the ANC. “His leadership qualities were incomparable and his departure has left big shoes to fill
within our ranks,” he said.
Xolani Madyo, the Democratic Alliance’s proportional representation councillor expressed shock at the news. He said he had seen Dondashe on Friday and he was “happy and laughing with his friends”. Madyo said that Dondashe was a respectful, humble young man who was “very active” in politics. “I expected a lot from this young
man. His death has left me worried,” he said.
He hoped that Dondashe’s killers would be arrested promptly and that the law would take its course.
