The close-knit community of Mbekweni finds itself in the throes of shock and grief following a heinous massacre that claimed the lives of five individuals, including two innocent children.
The incident unfolded on Monday night, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut conveyed the harrowing details of the event, stating, “Around 11:15pm on Monday, we received reports of gunshots fired at a residence on Chris Hani Street. Our officers swiftly arrived at the scene to discover a chilling sight – the lifeless bodies of three males aged 12, 14, and 34, as well as two women aged 32 and 39.”
As the community reels from this unspeakable act, investigators are grappling to uncover the motive behind the multiple homicides.
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“At this stage, we are working tirelessly to determine the motive behind this tragedy. We have yet to effect any arrests, leaving the community anxiously waiting for justice to be served,” Traut emphasized.
The shock and grief among residents are palpable. Ward Councillor Luvuyo Bolani expressed the community’s disbelief, saying, “This is a devastating blow to us all. It appears that the attackers were targeting an individual with a criminal history.”
In a tragic turn of events, they entered a dwelling after spotting the individual’s entry, unaware that he had exited through the rear.
Seeking his whereabouts, they confronted his relatives within. Failing to provide the answers they sought, the attackers indiscriminately opened fire, shrouded in darkness.
“(He) arrived in the morning visibly shaken and he was taken away by the police for his safety,” Bolani added.
While the assailants believed that the individual they were after had wronged them, the extent of their violence had devastating consequences for innocent lives.
The victims have been identified as Simphiwe Solani, aged 12, Ntlantla Solani, aged 14, Chandre Horn, aged 32, Olwethu Sompani, aged 34, and Zimkhitha Solani, aged 39.
Community Policing Forum Chair Henry Jacobs echoed the sentiments of the shaken community, stating, “Our community is in deep shock. We are actively collecting information to understand this tragic event, but our main concern is the safety of our residents.”
In the wake of this horrific tragedy, Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen urged anyone with information to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
“This is an utterly heartbreaking incident. The 4th quarter crime statistics, January to March 2023, show that 100 women and 39 children were murdered during this period. We urge anyone with any information to assist the authorities in their investigation,” urged Allen.
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