A family in eMzinoni is mourning the loss of three family members who were shot dead at their home in Ext 4 on Saturday afternoon, April 9.
The traumatised survivors are struggling to come to terms with what befell them that day when a man they all know allegedly shot and killed the head of the family, Mandla Mabuza (55), his daughter Nomcebo (24) and a family member, Sello Masilela (28) in what appears to have been a domestic dispute with another relative, who is the man’s wife.
This woman was also critically wounded and is now fighting for her life in the Witbank Hospital.
She was shot in the neck and leg.
According to the spokesman for the eMzinoni Police, Sgt Cythia Mtsweni, Mandla was shot in the back and the bullet exited through his chest.
“Sello was shot once in the chest,” said Sgt Mtsweni.
Nomcebo was shot several times when she tried to protect the other woman.
Nomcebo’s sister, Nomthandazo Hlophe, crawled to their mother’s room to escape the shooter.
Her mother and the wounded wife was in the room at the time and Hlophe stowed away the bleeding woman between the base of a bed and a mattress.
She then hid under a duvet until the gunman left the house.
“I cannot believe I am still alive,” said Hlophe.
“I had never been so afraid in my life,” she told the Ridge Times.
Mandla’ wife, Dudu Phakade, said she managed to slip out of the room and find refuge with community members nearby when the gunman went in search of his wounded wife.
A 13-year-old who was at the house when the armed man arrived, fled the scene when the first bullets sounded.
Fannie Phakade who is Dudu’s nephew, said the family is traumatised, especially his aunt whose husband and daughter were gunned down.
“We are just thankful thatmy aunt and cousin Nomthandazo survived. We believe the guy wanted to kill everyone.”
Another family member also narrowly escaped when a bullet struck the glass door in the lounge.
The young woman and her baby were sitting next to the door and the glass shattered onto her and the infant.
They were also rushed to the clinic.
“Fortunately, they only inhaled gun powder and sustained cuts from the broken glass door,” Fannie said.
The eMzinoni Police were out in droves that afternoon to search for the suspect.
They were later informed that the man handed himself over on the same day at the Ermelo Police Station, about 50km from Bethal.
“He also turned in his 9mm Barretta with seven rounds,” said Sgt Mtsweni.
The suspect briefly appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 11.
Brig Selvy Mohlala, Mpumalanga spokesman for the police, said the man was charged with three counts of murder, as well as an additional charge of attempted murder.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspect and his wife were having some marital challenges which might have fuelled the situation,” Brig Mohlala said.
The case was postponed to Friday, April 22, for a formal bail application.
The provincial police commissioner, Lieut-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela condemned the incident.
She called for couples to refrain from using violence to resolve issues.
“Violence is not the way to go. We urge couples to resolve matters in a amicable way.
“There was no need for the loss of lives in this manner,” commented the General.
