'Everyone was lying in blood'
2007-12-28 10:42
Durban - KwaZulu-Natal matriculant Hlengiwe Msomi was one of thousands anxiously awaiting her matric results - but she never even got to read the morning paper.
Her angry father on Thursday night shot dead his wife, his mother and his mother-in-law and then turned the gun on his children - after a family dispute.
Seventeen-year-old Hlengiwe from Inanda, and her younger sisters Mandisa, 16, and Mphwenhle, 15, were shot several times in their abdomen.
Their six-month-old baby sister, Hmakle, was shot in the stomach.
And now the four siblings are fighting for their lives at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
Msomi had passed her matric with a senior certificate.
Inspector Michael Read said the incident took place at 20:20 at their home in Sigananda Road in Inanda.
"It is alleged that there was a family dispute and the angry man opened fire and fatally shot his wife Makhosi Msomi and his mother-in-law Virginia Msomi," said Read.
"The four children, who were all girls, were also shot and are in a critical but stable condition in hospital," he said.
Neighbour Aletta Sithole said it was horrific.
"We just heard gunshots and then saw the husband running out of the house with a gun," said Sithole.
"We went to the house and saw everyone lying covered in blood...we called the police," she said.
Sithole confirmed that Hlengiwe was in matric and said it was a tragic turn of events.
"She was so anxious to get her results," said Sithole.
Read said the man fled in a blue Opel Kadett.
"At this stage, the motive is domestically related and no arrest has been made," he said.
Police have launched a manhunt for the man and anyone with information is urged to contact the police.
- SAPA