Family slaying in Tsolo stock theft village

Four men shot dead by gunmen, a fifth injured as murders go on unabated

The brutal slaying of four family members in a remote rural village in Tsolo on the weekend has left the rest of the villagers terrified of a fresh spiral of bloodshed in revenge attacks.

Police provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Liziwe Ntshinga has ordered a special task team to prioritise investigating the killing spree, in which a fifth person was seriously injured, at KuMagutywa village.

The murders come two weeks after two people were shot dead in the same village. One of them was an elder in the family of the latest victims.

The deceased are Sithela Ngwevukazi Makhamba, 79, his son Siphelele Makhamba, 28, and his cousins Mbuyiseli Makhamba, 60, and Mvuyiswa Makhamba, 73.

They will be buried on September 26.

The village has a history of stock theft-related vendettas since the early 1990s.

The settlement is adjacent to Malepelepe village, where last year there were 10 killings, also believed to be related to stock theft.

AmaMpondomise AseNtshona traditional council head Zwelakhe Tyali and Mhlontlo ward 24 councillor Siphumze Maham appealed for calm.

“This has left us all shocked and people are in fear for their lives,” said Tyali. “There is a high level of distrust among community members. We urge people not to embark on revenge attacks based on mere assumptions. We do not know the motives for these killings.

“I urge the family and everyone else to work with police in ensuring that those involved in this are arrested.

Maham said this was the third attack this month.

“An elderly family member was shot dead early this month and last week another person was shot and injured. We have five people killed in three attacks and two injured.”

Police spokesperson Brig Tembinkosi Kinana said three men in a silver-grey Toyota double-cab arrived at a homestead on Saturday at about 5.45pm.

“Two, who are alleged to have been carrying an AK-47 rifle and a pistol, proceeded to the yard.

“Without a word, they started shooting at three men aged between 28 and 78 in the yard, who died instantly.

“They drove into the village, where they came across another man aged 28 whom they shot and seriously injured.

“They then proceeded further to a house in the same village where they shot and killed a 73year-old man,” said Kinana.

Four murder cases and an attempted murder case have been opened. No arrests have been made.

Family spokesperson Jongumzi Dazana, who witnessed the horror, said it felt “like watching a movie scene.

“It happened in broad daylight. The men brandished firearms driving up and down the village, recklessly killing people. Some gunmen were on foot and others were in the vehicle. We don’t know if they will attack again.

“Our safety is not guaranteed,” said Dumzana.

Dumzana said one of his relatives killed at the weekend had 80 sheep stolen in August.

On Saturday premier Oscar Mabuyane, who slammed stock theft as a major threat to the province’s economy, highlighted Tsolo, Qumbu and Ngcobo as hotbeds of both stock theft and related revenge killings.

When the Dispatch visited KuMagutywa, most people were too afraid to be interviewed.

One Grade 12 pupil spoke to the Dispatch.

“Shooting, fatal or not, is something we have learnt to accept in our daily lives. We thank God on waking up in the morning still alive. This atmosphere instills a devil-may-care attitude and grooms hardcore criminals who disregard human life,” she said.

Anyone with information that can lead to arrests may contact the nearest police station or call the Crime Stop number, 08-600-10111.