Pietermaritzburg family hacked to death: Family suspects murderers wanted money
The bloody attack on five women and children in their home has sent shockwaves through the country.

Eleven-year-old twins Ayanda and Anele Gumede and their younger sister Ziyanda (nine), were among five members of the Gumede family who were butchered with a knife and axe at their home in Mgodini in Edendale, KZN, on Tuesday.
The grisly discovery of the murdered family on Wednesday sent shockwaves through the country as police spent most of the day combing through the scene for clues that would lead them to the killers of the three children, their mother Fikile Patricia Gumede (45) and their granny Mildred Thokozile Gumede (85).
At this stage, some family members believe the motive for the killings is robbery.
The community became aware of the gruesome murders when a family member went to visit, knocked several times at the door without a response and then forcefully entered the home.
Mphezi Hlongwane says she received a call urging her to rush home because of a family tragedy.
Sobbing as she spoke, Hlongwane said some family members believe the killers knew when the family would receive a monthly payment from their brother, who is a soldier with the South African Defence Force.
“Our brother is a soldier and he usually sends money on the 15th of every month. We suspect that the people who did this knew that my brother had sent the money as my mother’s and sister’s money was taken. I am not sure about the exact amount.”
Hlongwane and other family and neighbours described the scene as ‘horrific’ because an axe and large knife had been used.
“I do not even know how I feel at this moment. It is very difficult. My mother was a prayer warrior and had a good heart. Whenever we visited home, she would always welcome us with prayer, even before we sat down. My sister was always smiling. They were loved by the people because of their good hearts. Even though they were not people who would walk around the streets or go visiting, when they did go out, people would be excited to see them,” she said.
Induna Milton Zithulele Gwala, who is also the family’s neighbour and who summoned the police to the scene, said he was alerted to the tragedy by a relative who found the bodies.
“He told me that he had broken the window and he saw the grandmother inside. I went with him to check and I moved a curtain and used the cellphone flashlight so that I could see properly.
“I saw the grandmother lying in a pool of blood and there was a big knife next to her legs,” Gwala described.
Fikile had previously told the induna that a relative had been harassing the family for money to the extent that she had even considered leaving the area.
Mgodini councillor Nkosinathi Masasoeu said the community is both shocked and outraged at the brutality of the incident.
He said that he had not experienced anything as gruesome as the murder since becoming a councillor three years ago.
“We hope that the police will arrest the suspects soon and they must face the law,” he said.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the police have launched a massive search for the suspects.
People who might have information that may assist in the investigation are urged to contact their nearest police station or call the crime stop number 08600 10111.
Read original story on witness.co.za