Two killed in clash over livestock
POLICE have confiscated 12 firearms and an assortment of other dangerous weapons including spears, pangas and swords after two opposing groups of villagers and livestock owners clashed near Mthatha. Two men died in the fight. The weapons, which included 12 pistols, seven of which were unlicensed, and 69 live rounds of ammunition were displayed at Bhityi police station to journalists.
The weapons will be sent for ballistic testing to determine whether they can crimes.
Police spokesman LieutenantColonel Mzukisi Fatyela said the firearms had been confiscated by Bhityi police and public order policing unit members when they rounded up the fighting men at Julukunqu village near Mthatha on Sunday.
“It is alleged that stock owners from various villages including Nkaleni, Phingilili, Ndibela and some Xhorha [Elliotdale] villages, who are members of the Masifunisane or Isolomzii (community groups), went searching for their missing livestock at some Bhityi villages including Julukunqu. be linked to any other
“When they arrived, there was a stand-off with some villagers. There was a shooting and one man died on the scene and five others were seriously wounded,” said Fatyela.
One of the five injured men later died in hospital.
“Eight men were arrested and will be charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and some for possession of dangerous weapons,” said Fatyela.
He said two counts of murder, and four counts of attempted murder had been opened.
Fatyela said livestock rife in the Bhityi area. theft was
“But this does not allow people to take the law into their own hands. We cannot tolerate such behaviour where people heavily arm themselves and go searching for animals,” he said. Missing stock should be reported to the police.
“If they have information on their whereabouts or have been tippedoff, they should contact police and ask for the assistance of police.
“To go there without police assistance, they had other motives,” said Fatyela.
He said police would work hard to ensure that incidents like this did not happen again.