Massacre 'was vigilantism'
2003-02-03 09:18
Fred Kockott
Pietermaritzburg - The seven members of the Xaba family who were gunned down and burnt to death in their KwaMaye home near Bergville are believed to be victims of vigilantes.
Police last week arrested four suspects found in possession of an AK-47, Uzi sub-machine guns and a 9mm pistol.
Investigators are awaiting the results of ballistic tests to establish whether the guns were used in the Xaba massacre.
It is believed Galina Xaba, her daughter Mlili, 45, and five grandchildren were shot and burned to death because Galina told police one of her sons had been kidnapped and beaten by a community vigilante group, the Black Scorpions.
After rescuing Mkhuluzeni Xaba, 43, who had been tied in a tree and assaulted while dangling from his hands and feet, police arrested 29 of his assailants.
The arrests sparked a huge public protest three days later on January 13 when more than 1 000 people marched on the Bergville magistrate's court demanding their release.
In a memorandum handed to police, people complained about the failure on police to investigate stock-theft cases, and the subsequent emergence of vigilantism.
Four dwellings gutted
After lengthy discussions with leaders of the marchers, and consultations with a police team investigating recent kidnappings and assaults of suspected stock thieves, lawyer Fred Bunting told the crowd that those arrested would have to apply for bail.
On Monday last week, several of the accused were released on R1 000 bail.
At midnight on Tuesday, one of the Xaba homesteads near Woodstock dam was attacked, and Galina, her daughter and five grandchildren were shot and burned to death. Four dwellings were gutted.
Only two of the family managed to escape unseen into nearby bush after they heard gunshots being fired into Galina's home, said Sizakhele Xaba, 42.
"Galina had gone with others to her daughter's home to say goodbye as Mlili was leaving for Cape Town on Wednesday morning.
"They were all killed except Sanele, 8, who was saved by Galina falling on top of him."
"Sanele is still having nightmares. He wakes up at night, crying and screaming that people are shooting and burning his mother and sisters."
The massacre, and the subsequent destruction of the other Xaba homes has left the surviving family members practically homeless and fearful of further attacks.
Mkhuluzeni, who is the key witness in the case against his 29 alleged assailants, has left the area with his wife and children.
"My wife is scared we will all be killed if we stay," he said.
Speaking after the burial of the massacre victims on Saturday, Mkhuluzeni was adamant he had been falsely accused of being a stock thief by a neighbour harbouring a grudge.
'Police refused to take statement'
Showing off scars from an earlier beating, Mkhuluzeni said he was first accosted close to his home in Rookdale on December 7.
Although he reported the assault to police, Mkhuluzeni said two policemen in the Bergville charge office refused to take a statement, saying: "We don't talk with thieves."
Mkhuluzeni said that on January 10 "people came in a minibus and took me to Hoffentaal, not far from my mother's home'.
"When my mother learned I was being beaten, she sent Zondeleni, my sister, with food and water."
"I asked her to call the police as I was about to die," said Mkhuluzeni.
The funeral service and burial at Galina's homestead was organised at no cost to the Xaba family by Malinga Funeral Services in Bergville.
The government also helped by providing tents, food and catering, as well as a grader to help family members dig the seven graves.
- The Witness