TimesLIVE reports that the family of slain security guard Thembinkosi Ntuli has accused his employer, Adams Close Security and Protection Services, of attempting to evade responsibility for his death after the company disputed that he was on duty when he was killed while protecting taxi boss Victor Molefe Moekeletsi.

Moekeletsi was the target of the shooting in which both he and his bodyguard, Ntuli, were killed on 30 October. The company claimed in a letter to Lindo Ntuli, Ntuli’s brother, that Thembinkosi was not on duty at the time of the incident. The family had last week asked the company to confirm whether his death had been reported to the Labour Department’s Compensation Fund and whether the prescribed form had been submitted within the required seven-day period.. The company was also asked to confirm whether notification had been made to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira), as required when a registered security officer dies in the line of duty.

In response, the company claimed that Thembinkosi was supposed to be on approved annual leave when the incident occurred. “He returned on his own without being called to work or notifying his manager, and without obtaining approval to come to work. Our records also show that he did not sign the register to report for duty,” the company stated. Lindo, however, accused the company of trying to evade liability, saying the investigating officer found his brother wearing his full uniform at the scene. “He died inside the company vehicle and was carrying a company-issued firearm – which he could not have accessed unless he had reported for duty that morning and the safe had been opened for him,” Lindo pointed out. The family has lodged complaints with the Compensation Fund, Psira and the SA Human Rights Commission.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE (subscriber access only)

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