Police have
launched a manhunt after seven people were shot and killed in Qunu, outside
Mthatha, last night.
The shooting
incident occurred around 23:40 on February 1, according to police
information.
The
deceased, four men and three women, have been identified as Mphathiswa
Mdingane (47), Nkululeko Ncedani (31), Sakhele Ncedani (27) and Siphelo Ngalo
(27).
The three women who perished during the shooting have been identified as Sihle
Khayingana (29), Sazenathi Saphethu (22) and another 22-year-old woman Afika,
whose surname is yet to be established.
The seven
deceased are not members of the same family as previously reported.
In another
unrelated incident, three people – an elderly woman (62), her daughter (44) and
a grandson (13) were shot and killed by unknown suspects around 20:00 last
night.
Both
shooting incidents took place in areas under the Bityi policing
precinct.
“Provincial police
commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene condemns the senseless
killings that took place in the OR Tambo District last night,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana.
“In the
first incident at about 20:00, unknown suspects entered a homestead in
Thantseka location and fatally shot an elderly woman (62) and her 13-year-old
grandson. It is alleged that they then proceeded to the second house and shot
and killed a 44-year-old woman. The deceased was the daughter of the elderly
woman.”
Kinana said
the motive for the senseless attack was unknown at this stage.
“In a second
unrelated incident, it is alleged that on Wednesday, February 1 at about 23:40,
unknown gunmen entered a rondavel in Qunu and opened fire on seven people (four
men and three women) between the ages 32 and 46 years old. All seven were
fatally wounded. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under
investigation. As the investigation is at an early stage, it has not yet been
established whether the two incidents are linked,” Kinana added.
Police have
appealed to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the
suspects to contact the Station Commander of SAPS Bityi, Lieutenant Colonel Lindile
Maqungwana on 079 696 0708.
A police task
team has been set-up to track, trace and arrest the culprits involved in both
incidents.
Seven family members were gunned down in the same Tantseka locality in November last year.
Police have since arrested seven suspects in connection with the November shooting.
