Two young men found shot dead in separate Nelson Mandela Bay locations

Police investigate murders of Sandile Ngoqo and Mazizi Ntshibilili, whose bodies were discovered hours apart after a night out.

The bodies of two young men who went missing on the evening of 16 April were found shot dead in separate locations in Nelson Mandela Bay the following morning, police said.¹²

Sandile Ngoqo, 22, and Mazizi Ntshibilili, 19, left their homes in Sunridge Park and Greenshields Park respectively on the evening of 16 April, according to police spokesperson Capt Andre Beetge.¹ Ngoqo collected Ntshibilili in a white Volkswagen Caddy, and the two men were allegedly going to Summerstrand but later visited a tavern in Motherwell, Beetge said.¹

Ntshibilili's body was found at about 5.30am on 17 April in Mgwalana Street, NU6, Motherwell, with gunshot wounds to his head.¹ Sandile Ngoqo's body was discovered about five hours later next to the Swartkops River near Corobrik, with a gunshot wound to his back.¹² The vehicle they had been using was found abandoned in Ndlanzi Street, NU8, Motherwell, on the same day.¹

Both victims were identified by their parents on Monday, Beetge said.¹ Police are investigating two counts of murder.¹

Sandile Ngoqo was the son of Nelson Mandela Bay acting city manager Lonwabo Ngoqo.² The elder Ngoqo declined to comment when contacted, saying the family requested privacy.²

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe said the city was deeply saddened by the violence.² "The City is deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence that has robbed two families of their sons and has shaken the broader community of Nelson Mandela Bay," Lobishe said in a statement released on Monday.²

Police have asked anyone with information to contact investigating officers Det Capt Pieterse on 082-442-1684 or Capt Petrus on 082-771-4573, or Crime Stop on 08600-10111.¹