Brothers beat uncle to death, burn his body

TWO brothers from Plumtree allegedly beat their uncle to death and burnt his body to conceal evidence, accusing him of burning their plastic water containers.

Unity Ndlovu (27) and Elliot Ncube (31), both of Ntali Village, Mambale area under Chief Bango, allegedly stashed 43-year-old Germany Nleya's remains and ashes in two shallow graves on top of two hills.

Investigators found only the skull and bones from one leg.

The gruesome killing came to light when an unknown person posted the details on a WhatsApp chat Group in Botswana three months after Nleya had gone missing.

The duo – who are village head Velaphi Ndlovu's children – allegedly kidnapped Nleya of Empandeni from Mr Donald Ncube's homestead in broad daylight on August 20.

They tied his hands behind his back and began assaulting him while other villagers watched.

They force-marched the bleeding Nleya to a hill where they allegedly punched and kicked him until he died.

A source in the village said no one made a police report when Nleya did not return from the hill.

He said Ncube and Ndlovu tracked Nleya down, killed him and kept the matter secret.

"News of Germany's death came all the way from Botswana in a WhatsApp message. The messages read that Germany had been murdered, burnt and his remains hidden in the hills," said Nicholas.

"My brother, Richard immediately came home from Botswana and together we set off to investigate. Our first port of call was  Headman Matenga, the community leader of Mambale area where he was last seen three months ago."

He said villagers were shocked because Ncube and Ndlovu had told them Nleya escaped from them on the hill.

Nicholas said police picked up Ncube and Ndlovu for questioning on Monday and they confessed to killing Nleya before leading police to the graves.