By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

The Hawks has confirmed the third suspect in the Loyiso Mabandla Nkohla murder case died a day after his arrest in his holding cell in East London. 

Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said the suspect died of natural causes.

"No foul play is suspected as it is confirmed that he died of a heart attack this morning," he said.

Nkohla was killed in a hail of bullets while addressing community members of an informal settlement at Philippi railway station in April. 

It is believed he was targeted for his role in talks to clear Metrorail's Central Line, where families had built their homes. 

Zukisa Tshabile, 38, was first arrested, followed by the roundup of another suspect believed to be one of the shooters, Mziyanda Mdlungu. 

The Hawks traced and arrested 38-year-old Mdlungu in Katlehong, Tshwane, on Monday, 13 November 2023. 

He appeared in Tshwane Central Magistrate's Court the following day, and was expected to appear together with Tshabile at Athlone Magistrate Court on Monday. 

The State told the court that Tshabile, Mdlungu and two others, who are still at large, fatally shot Nkohla after being hired to kill him.

The deceased suspect, believed to be the mastermind, was said to be a security company owner, and was linked to the case through cellphone and bank records.

Nkohla came into the national spotlight in 2013 when he and former ANC councillor Andile Lili led a group of people who dumped faeces on the steps of the Western Cape legislature to protest against Khayelitsha residents' inadequate sanitation.

The "poo protests" resulted in Nkohla facing charges for violation of the Civil Aviation Act, after he and a few others were caught on camera dumping human waste at Cape Town International Airport.