Four widows live in terror after husbands slain
Two separate shootings within six hours claim lives of men
Four Eastern Cape widows whose husbands were brutally murdered are living in fear of more attacks.
Ngcobo traditional leader Nkosi Thandile Zanoxolo Mooi, his brother Vuyani Mooi, cousin Mzoxolo Zilwa and his traditional councillor and close relative Zamumzi Mbuthuma, died in a hail of bullets in two separate incidents within six hours of each other.
The shootings took place at Mntuntloni village on the outskirts of Ngcobo. In each attack the gunmen left two lifeless bodies riddled with bullets.
The killings took place between 7pm on Thursday and 3am on Friday. Two men have since been arrested.
To add more misery to the grieving family, Nkosi Mooi’s youngest brother, Akhona, was found in his house hanging by a rope at about 6am on Friday after the shootings.
The two attacks happened at Zilwa’s homestead. His widow, Noluthando Zilwa, survived.
“I am lucky to be alive. One of the gunmen shot at me several times but missed. I am terrified they will attack again,” said Noluthando.
According to the villagers, one of the two suspects arrested for the killings was staying at Akhona’s house and was spotted inside his car before being arrested.
According to survivors, Mbuthuma and Zilwa were outside Zilwa’s homestead when the gunmen opened fire.
“Hardly 20 minutes after the police and pathology vehicle left there was another shooting at the group of villagers who had come to hear about the first attack,” said Noluthando.
Even though two men have been arrested, the wives said they were nevertheless scared for their lives.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Tembinkosi Kinana said the same gunmen had struck twice, with two victims killed in each attack.
Mbuthuma and Zilwa were killed in the first attack, and the Mooi brothers died in the second.
“On August 27, at about 7.35pm, police were summoned to the scene where they found two deceased people aged 44 and 75.
“While at the scene, information surfaced about a suspect who was hiding in the nearby bushes.
“Police rushed to the bushes where the suspect was hiding, and he was arrested. En route to the Ngcobo police station, police were called back to the same homestead, where two other people, Nkosi Mooi and his brother, had been gunned down,” said Kinana.
He confirmed the arrest of two suspects, saying three unlicensed firearms — two revolvers and one 12-bore shotgun — as well as five revolver rounds and an empty cartridge were recovered.
“The suspect is related to the person who committed suicide,” said Kinana.
The two men are due to appear in court on Monday to face four counts of murder and others of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Mooi took over in 2011 after his father, Nkosi Mzikayise Mooi, and another traditional leader, Nkosi Mncedisi Gwarhubana, were gunned down in what was believed to have been a professional hit in January of that year.
Their killers were never arrested.
Gqutyini traditional council head Nkosi Jongisizwe Gwarhuba and Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders acting chair Nkosi Langa Mavuso expressed shock at the killings.
“We have lost a community developer and peacemaker, an anti-crime crusader and a down-to-earth leader of people.
“This was someone who put his people first. When he first took over the reins there was violence here involving stock theft. The community was fighting among itself. But he created stability and peace,” said Gwarhuba.