MEC Khoza calls for police intervention following the hijacking of Social Worker assigned to help survivors of brutal murder
KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Mrs Nonhlanhla Khoza, has expressed her shock and disgust following the hijacking of a social worker who was despatched from Eshowe to Inanda to provide psychosocial support to the Khumalo family members.
MEC Khoza and Mayor of Umlalazi Local Municipality, Councillor Thulani Dlamini were informed about the hijacking of a social worker while at Khumalo homestead. The social worker was hijacked at gunpoint in the premises of Social Development service office.
A team of interfaith leaders, local municipality leaders and MEC Khoza had converged at the Khumalo homestead in Nkanini area, Eshowe for a prayer following a macabre murder of six family members on Saturday.
The deceased, including two pensioners, Christopher (70), his wife Octavia (63), Mbali,(29), Thabo (10), Sinothile (18) and eight-year-old Langelihle Sigampu, were gunned down by a social worker while watching television in the lounge.
A social worker who was a relative to the deceased stationed at ONgoye Service Office in Esikhaleni area allegedly stormed in the Khumalo homestead and opened fire. He was later arrested in Greytown on Monday.
Yesterday he appeared at Inkanyezi Magistrate's Court and the matter was adjourned to 05 March 2021. Speaking during the visit to the Khumalo family, MEC Khoza said the murder of family members had sent shockwave to the county.
"We are really taken aback by this incident. We couldn't expect that a social worker can be involved in such a horrific incident to wipe out the entire family. At this stage we don't know what could have led to such an incident, but we want to give assurance to the Khumalo family that government feels their pain and will support them throughout their painful journey. We are not a government that only comes to the communities when it's only good, but during this difficult times we stand with them," she said.
"It is equally painful that we assigned one of our social workers to provide support to some family members that were moved to Inanda after the horrendous incident and was hijacked. He was supposed to hand over the matter to his colleagues at Inanda office, but was hijacked at gunpoint on the premises before completing his assignment," she said.
MEC Khoza urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the spate of hijackings of state vehicles.
"It is unfortunate that while we are supposed to give support to the bereaved families, we also have to ensure the wellbeing of our social worker."
Mayor of Umlalazi local Municipality, Councillor Thulani Dlamini said the community was still reeling from shock after the murder of the Khumalo family members.
"As government we will continue to provide support to victims. We are pleased that the Provincial government has taken the matter into their own hands to provide support to the family. We also want to thank Social Development MEC Khoza and her team for always being with communities in such difficult times."
