KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, has made a passionate call for restraint to the community of eMbongolwane, outside Eshowe, where five family members were butchered to death and set on fire last weekend.
Mchunu, who this week Wednesday, 31 July 2013, made an in-loco-inspection of the scene of the murder, was devastated and appalled at the heinousness and violent nature of the attack at the Mnyango homestead. The scene of the murder was a trail of devastation characterised by burnt-out houses, broken windows and lifelessness. Five family members were butchered into death and set on fire. Two cattle were hacked and speared to death by assailants.
Mchunu, accompanied by a large team of security forces and detectives working on the case, assessed the damage and was shocked at the extent of violence that was meted out to the occupants of rondavels by the rampaging killers. He was briefed by a young member of the family who managed to escape as the attackers, who had stabbed him with spears, had left him to die but survived.
Mchunu described the manner in which the five were killed as representing the lowest level of decline in morality and ubuntu. "This charred walls do not mean much compared to the lives that were lost here, including a baby, who were killed here," said Mchunu. Mchunu said this was a violent face of KwaZulu-Natal, which has recently seen an upsurge of violence in areas like Estcourt and eMatheni in KwaNongoma.
"One of the biggest challenges here is that the province is full of illegal firearms. These illegal firearms are key drivers of violence and conflict in this province," said Mchunu, who commended police for arresting five suspects in connection with these murders. Tensions are running high in this village of Ngedlezi with locals saying they feared for their lives in what was expected to be revenge and counter revenge in this raging conflict.
However, Mchunu who later addressed locals in a packed hall, urged them to observe restrain and assured them that security forces had been deployed in the area to maintain peace and order. He warned that engaging in violence would not resolve any problem and could be a major set back for the locals and development in the area.
"The biggest and most devastating form of violence in KwaZulu-Natal took place between the ANC and IFP in the late 80’s and early 90’s. But not a single person could claim that they gained anything from this violence and fighting."
"Fighting should be avoided at all costs as it could overwhelm the village, resulting in generations after generations being caught up in fighting and never ending war."
"In this matter, let us give the law enforcement agencies an opportunity to attend to the situation and to find out who are responsible for this unfortunate situation," said Mchunu.
He urged the locals to observe restraint, particularly at the weekend when the Mnyango family would be burying their loved ones. Five family members of Mnyango family were killed in eMbongolwane area over the weekend Saturday, 27 July 2013 at approximately 20h00. Thulisile Mnyango (50) and her four children, Cebile Mnyango (21), Lungelo Mnyango (17), Limuli Mnyango (10), and Qiniso (2) were at their homestead in eMbongolwane area when they were attacked by group of unknown people.
It is alleged that the suspects set alight four houses and the five family members who were in one of the houses were burnt to death. It is suspected that a petrol bomb was used during the attack.
