Maskandi musician Sjula "Iqhawe LakoMenziwa" Biyela was shot dead in a crossfire with the cops over the weekend. The incident happened at Ntibane Lodge in Babanango in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday night. Sjula's brother, Sihle Biyela and two of their friends Bizokwakhe Sithole (52) and Lindani Ncanana (37), were also fatally wounded in the shoot-out.

ALLEGED HITMEN

KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the incident. "Four suspected hitmen were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police at Ntibane in the Babanango policing precinct in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police officers who are members of the KwaZulu-Natal Stabilization Operations Team operationalised intelligence received a tip-off about the whereabouts of the suspects who were wanted in connection with several cases of murder," Netshiunda said. He added that the intelligence led the police officers to a lodge where the suspects were in hiding. It's alleged that when the police announced their presence, the suspects fired shots from inside three chalets. "In self-defence, police returned fire and a shootout ensued. After the shootout, four suspected hitmen were found to have suffered gunshot wounds and were certified dead at the scene. No police officer was injured during the shootout. Cases of attempted murder against police officers were also registered," he said.

TWO OF THE SUSPECTS RELATED TO ZIMDOLLAR

Sjula, who is famous for his songs Sas'banga Ubunsizwa and Imina u-Number 4, was with his brother Sihle Biyela and two other suspects when they were shot by the police. The two brothers are cousins of controversial Ukhozi FM presenter Zimiphi "Zimdollar" Biyela. In October last year, Zimdollar accused the police live on air of always having a reason to shoot and kill suspects and later claim that they were being shot at.

She accused the police of killing her brothers in the past. "Why are they always shot at? We are not children there is an order issued for cops to kill people. Innocent people end up dying," she said during her show. She went on to blame the police for the deaths of her two brothers, whom she claims were also killed by members of NIU.

Responding to the presenter at the funeral of Warrant Officer Sithembiso Mazibuko, who was allegedly killed by thugs in KZN, Police Minister Bheki Cele slammed Zimdollar for the comments she made about the police and blamed her for the officer's death. At the time, the minister said the presenter used a national asset, the SABC, to be a spokesperson for criminals.