Residents of Ngobazana Village in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, say they now live in fear after the mass killing of 18 people at the weekend.
Sixteen of them, 14 women and two men, were gunned down execution style.
It is understood that the attacks were carried out in two separate homes, with only a two-month-old baby surviving the heinous onslaught. One of the affected homes was preparing for a tombstone unveiling ceremony.
Some neighbours of the deceased have detailed the horror of rifles going off non-stop, not knowing whether it will eventually strike them.
“The way the guns were going off even glasses started shaking, as if it was happening inside my house.”
“We were very scared as neighbours, to the point that we couldn’t even go out to go and seek help.”
A relative of the family of four of the victims of the massacre says they do not know the motive behind the shooting, adding that no family feud was known to them.
This as some were speculating that the attack may have been a result of such a dispute.
Below are the names of the deceased:
1. Thobile Sinqina – Male, 37
2. Nonkanyiso Dukuza – Female, 19
3. Ruth King – Female, 21
4. Mandisa Dlokweni – Female, 59
5. Samantha Sinqina – Female, 26
6. Lungiswa Gawulekana – Female, 51
7. Thandeka Mhlaluvele – Female, 46
8. Mary Sinqina – Female, 63
9. Nombuliso Dukuza – Female, 32
10. Mathembisile Mayekiso/Sinqina – Female, 64
11. Nobelungu France – Female, 59
12. Themi Vimba – Female, 41
13. Nomazwi Ndleleni – Female, 59
14. Smomoza Sinqina – Male, 14
15. Nancy Sinqina – Female, 59
16. Dimpho Sinqina – Female, 30
17. Thali King Sinqina – Female, 26
18. Sigobodo Gxobela – Male, 59
A manhunt has been launched for the suspects in the attack.
The tragedy comes amid public anger over the spate of violent crimes in the country and prevalence of illegal firearms that are used to commit these heinous acts.
The issue of firearms also going missing at police stations has also been of grave concern.
Social Justice activist, Professor Mary De Haas, has bemoaned the lack of political will to clamp down on mass killings.
She says oversight by the country’s prosecuting authority is very poor and often exacerbates the problem.
“There’s a huge problem with justice, the managers of courts, the prosecution, these are the people who are supposed to be overseeing investigations, securing of the crime scenes. I think a lot of it is bad training for our police too, because you often find people who buy their way into the police and don’t have the competency.”
The scholar says the country’s poor crime intelligence and mismanagement are some factors that have plunged the country into a crisis.
Meanwhile, director of Gun Free South Africa, Adele Kirsten, says more serious and heavy sanctions for people who possess illegal firearms are urgently needed.
“It’s not enough to just recover guns, this is a secondary intervention, the government needs to prioritise primary prevention in dealing with the number of guns circulating in society.”
Kirsten has highlighted the importance of bringing the Firearms Control Amendment Bill to Parliament.
“There are really important clauses in that bill that significantly strengthen gun laws, such as placing limits on the type and the number of guns and ammunition that one person can own.”
She adds that the bill also restricts the purpose for which an individual can own a firearm.
Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza
3:00 am - 5:00 am
5:00 am - 9:00 am
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
COPYRIGHT 2023