A devastating mass sh00ting in an Eastern Cape village left 17 people de@d and three critically inj_red.
The victims were shot and k!lled on Friday night in a homestead in Nyathi village, Ngobozana, Lusikisiki. It is thought that the deceased were neighbors and relatives.
In MaNtlaneni village, also in Lusikisiki, on Saturday, they were getting ready for a customary ceremony known as umembulo or ukukhululwa kwezila, which signifies the end of the mourning period for a mother and daughter who were k!lled a year ago.
When the sh00ting started, the group had assembled to pack supplies and gifts for the occasion.
In the hospital, the three inj_red survivors are fighting for their lives. Khwalo Matandabuzo, a Lusikisiki gender-based violence activist, verified the occurrence.
“This is a disaster. This is shocking. This has left us devastated and feeling in shock. I have never heard of so many people sh0t and k!lled in one go, 17 people shot de@d just like that in one incident! This is so sad! I heard that 15 people were k!lled in one house and the only person who survived the shooting was a toddler. Two other people were shot de@d in neighbour’s home,” Matandabuzo said.
He said in the homestead where there were 15 people k!lled two other people had recently been k!lled.
Matandabuzo said that relatives had gathered in one home with all their goods and presents so on Saturday morning they would load all the goods including furniture to another village where umembulo rit_al was to be held on Saturday.
Ingquza Hill mayor Nonkosi Pepping confirmed the incident.
“This is so gruesome. This came as the crime in Lusikisiki was decreasing nicely and was not more featured in the top areas with m_rders and r@pe. Now this is spoiling all those efforts and gains. Other than the start this is all about the huge number of lost lives of the families. This may not be only one family, but relatives and neighbours and each family has lost many loved ones. This is so bad and scary,” said Pepping.
“The victims were going to MaNtlaneni village to attend umembulo to mark the end of mourning of a mother and daughter who were shot de@d last year. Now 17 people who were to attend this ceremony have been shot de@d. The g_nmen came and shot randomly k!lling everyone, women and children were also k!lled in the bloody sh00ting. This has left the community terrified,” she said
The mayor sent a message of condolences to the bereaved families and speedy recovery to those inj_red.
“We trust the police will soon crack the case and arrest those heartless criminals who showed no regard for human life. The sooner they are arrested the better for all of us,” said the mayor.
