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Bloody attack on four families
09/06/2006 19:53 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Residents of Chancele village in Mzimkhulu in the Eastern Cape are still in shock after unknown men attacked four family homesteads, killing four women and a little girl, police said on Friday.
"We suspect the attack was a witchcraft-related incident because all the deceased, except the girl, were elderly women," Superintendent Nondumiso Jafta said.
She said the shooting spree started on Thursday evening at Flora Mamkhulisi Chiya's Chancele homestead.
"The 71-year-old woman was sitting with her family of 12 at around 18:30 when they heard gunshots from outside. Immediately, an unknown balaclava clad man kicked open the kitchen door and entered wielding a pistol. The other two men were guarding the door," Jafta said.
They said they had a message for her
She said the gunman then opened fire, seriously injuring Chiya and killing her three-year-old granddaughter, Kwande Chiya.
"The man then shot Chiya's sister, Beatrice Mamkhulisi Khumalo,78, and her seven-year-old granddaughter Aphile Chiya before proceeding to the next Chiya homestead nearby," she said.
At the next homestead, the man is alleged to have kicked open the door before shooting dead Mantlangwini Sbandu-Chiya.
Jafta said the dead woman's 13-year-old daughter escaped unharmed.
"The same culprits then went to the third Chiya homestead nearby where they fatally shot Maradebe Thokozile Chiya. Her two grandchildren were not harmed," Jafta said.
She said two other Chiya homesteads were attacked on the same night, leaving two elderly women dead.
"They went into Julia Phikwa's home and told her helper that they had a message for her. When Phikwa, 76, came out of her bedroom, the men killed her. They then went to another homestead about 5km away where they fatally shot Cynthia Mamjwara Ngubane and injured her 13-year-old daughter Babalwa," Jafta said.
She said Ngubane's unharmed eight-year-old son managed to run to the neighbours for help as soon as the men fled.
"All the injured people were rushed to hospital in Ixopo but Mamkhulisi Chiya was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Kwazulu-Natal in a critical condition," she said.
Jafta said 16 spent cartridges were collected from the scenes and that police were investigating five cases of murder and four of attempted murder.
"No one has been arrested yet but anyone with information can contact Captain Phillip Nodlabi on 083 993 6916," Jafta said.
- SAPA
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