Law and order must return to Bay — mayor
As families of mass shooting victims shed tears at memorial service, city moves to increase security in townships
While a plan to deploy Metro Police to townships, bolster community policing forums and get 500 cameras running again was approved in council yesterday, the sound of crying echoed though the Nangoza Jebe Hall during a memorial service for the Kwazakhele mass shooting victims.
The ANC filed a motion of exigency at a council meeting as a means to curb the rampant fatal shootings across the city.
The families of the seven people who were killed, meanwhile, sat at the front of the hall in New Brighton where they hugged, cried and consoled each other.
Speakers at the service demanded the swift arrest of the two perpetrators.
The murder victims are Vusumzi Sishuba, 50, his brother, Andile, 52, Kholekile France, 54, Mbuyiseli Mboya, 64, Nomathamsanqa Mandla, 58, Liyema Poro, 20, and Nandipha Koliti, 42.
Vusumzi was celebrating his 50th birthday when the gunmen opened fire on Sunday.
Addressing the crowd at the hall, mayor Retief Odendaal said it was difficult to comprehend how a celebration ended in such tragedy.
“We need to think about how we got to this point where lives have no value and where individuals walk into a party with guns blazing.
“Why are we killing each other for money and tenders?”
While rumours about the motive for the brutal attack circulate, the police’s first incident report alludes to a celebration subsequent to a successful tender, along with the birthday party.
“I want to assure everyone that the metro won’t rest until the suspects are arrested,” Odendaal said.
“If you know these people, come forward because it won’t stop until we as the community put a stop to it.
“Law and order must return to all parts of the Bay.
“Police must do their part and we must do ours as a city. We must come together.”
ANC PR councillor Noxolo Koko said the horrific attack followed several senseless killings across the city.
She said it was frustrating that no arrests had been made in most of the incidents.
“This means the killers are around us,” she said.
“We call on the police minister [Bheki Cele] to work with speed to solve these cases and arrest the killers.”
ANC Ward 19 councillor Gamalihleli Maqula said the families would not stop grieving until they had closure
— and the gunmen were arrested.
“The only thing that will bring healing and peace is getting answers of what happened and why.”
Speaking on behalf of the families, DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga said he had planned to leave politics but the death of the seven people had changed this.
His niece, Koliti, died during the shooting and he had also meant to attend the birthday
party. “People of the Bay, something must happen.
“Today it is seven families, and tomorrow it might be any of you.
“We must unite because the division is what kills us,” he said.
Maqula submitted a motion in council earlier in the day and said the party was motivated by the killings, hijackings, vandalism of government property and school burglaries in townships.
“Many of these incidents are reported, without any arrests due to the lack of information from communities to the SAPS.”
This, he said, was due to a trust deficit.
In his motion, Maqula called for the Metro Police to be deployed to the townships because gun violence there was similar to that of the northern areas.
“The city, while working with police, must do regular patrols and roadblocks at the entrances and exit points randomly and weekly until the results are positive.
“All the installed cameras must be activated, especially in hotspot areas.”
There are more than 500 cameras across the city that have not been operational for a number of years.
The system had been due for an upgrade in 2019, but the tender was never finalised and no company was appointed to man the cameras.
Councillors also delivered messages of support to the families.
EFF councillor Zanele Sikawuti said the violence and lawlessness was the culmination of a failed government.
“Coloured areas and black townships have seen a steady spike in violent crime over the past few years where gun violence, shootings and killings have become a daily occurrence,” she said.
“One cannot help but wonder as to what has become of the life of a black child in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“We cannot and will not accept this as a norm.”
Poro’s KwaNobuhle family, meanwhile, said they felt sidelined as other victims’ families were visited by the likes of premier Oscar Mabuyane and Cele.
Early yesterday, Zola Nqini cluster councillors, including deputy mayor Khusta Jack, visited the family.
Poro’s sister, Nolubabalo Adams, 30, attended the birthday braai but left to buy a bottle of wine.
Walking back to the house, she heard gunshots.
A man running down the road shouted that there was a shooting.
She ran to the house, where a large group of people had gathered. She then called an ambulance.
Their sister, Nomvuyo Goba, 37, also arrived at the scene where she identified the body of Poro.
“I have been unable to sleep or eat since Sunday.
“All I think about is the body of my sister,” Goba said.
She said Poro left their house on Saturday for the braai.
It was postponed later and she slept over.
Poro then invited Goba to attend, and they planned to go home together later that evening.
After Adams called her, Goba left for Kwazakhele.
“I was told that my sister might be one of the seven people dead but I could not believe it,” she said.
Goba said police allowed her inside the house to identify Poro’s body.
“I will never forget what I saw.
“My little sister was just lying there.
“I just can’t stop thinking about her,” she said.
Poro was a third-year student at the University of the Western Cape, where she was studying towards a Bachelor of Education.
She was due back at university next week.
“I can never understand why God allowed this to happen to my baby sister.
“She was our baby and the only hope for the family,” Goba said.
Ward 47 councillor Lungile Langbooi said he would meet stakeholders at his office to discuss ways to assist the family.
Jack said he would speak to Odendaal about how the municipality could assist the family.
Funerals for the victims will take place separately.