Mamelodi hails ‘John Wick’ vigilante after ‘Book Haram’ gang leader death

The Mamelodi community claims to know the true identity of 'John Wick'.

By / / Crime
John wick Mamelodi

The ‘John Wick’ being hailed in Mamelodi has nothing to do with Keanu Reeves’ character on the upcoming fourth instalment of the blockbuster action movie.

Who is this ‘John Wick’ from Mamelodi?

It seems, Mamelodi, a township in Gauteng, has its own vigilante, whose alleged actions mimic the storyline depicted by the melancholic Wick from the fictional Hollywood film.

In this version, the copy-cat vigilante allegedly targets members of Boko Haram, a local gang that’s terrorised Mamelodi for years. It must be clarified that the Book Haram referenced in this article is, in no way, linked to the militia group from West Africa.

News of the vigilante’s spate of alleged killings surfaced a few weeks ago, when members linked to the Mamelodi gang started falling to the sound of a barrel.

By Tuesday, Wick was hailed as a national hero after rumoured Boko Haram gang leader Phillip Given Mnguni was fatally struck while driving on the N4 highway near Diamond Hill toll plaza.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the incident took place around midday and that the persons responsible for the murder fled in a silver Mercedes Benz.

It’s believed Mnguni was tailed by the killer as he drove his Volkswagen Polo on the highway when, suddenly, he fell to a hail of bullets.

Moreover, the rumour mill in Mamelodi has been on overdrive with claims that ‘John Wick’ was also responsible for the series of shootings that took place between 10-18 October 2021.

Here’s what police have on the alleged vigilante

From what we understand, the people involved in the murders of the alleged Boko Haram gang members are still at large. The Mamelodi community is firm in its belief that this is the work of a single vigilante whose identity is known but purposefully withheld.

The police, however, have been cautious about celebrating the extermination of a gang that’s terrorised the community for years.

“The sentiment shared by a lot of people is that it is long overdue. They are happy with the situation. But as the CPF, we are not happy. Whether they are part of the community or gangsters, it is one death too many and it affects everybody,” community policing forum chairperson Tebogo Mashigo told EWN recently.

Police have yet to issue a formal statement on the rumours surrounding a ‘John Wick’ from Mamelodi.