The devastating Lusikisiki mass shooting which shocked the country almost wiped out the family of three siblings.
On Saturday, the country woke to news of a mass shooting that claimed the lives of 17 family members and friends at Ngobozana village.
Police have confirmed an 18th victim died in hospital on Sunday.
A two-month-old baby was among those who miraculously survived the shooting in the early morning.
The families of two sisters, Mary Sinqina and Nancy Sinqina-Matu, have been wiped out.
Sinqina-Matu, her children and grandchild all died in the shooting.
At her sister’s home, not far away, 13 people died.
Their sister, Nomnikelo Sinqina and her niece Zinzi died in an earlier shooting in August 2023.
The family had gathered to prepare for a traditional occasion to end the mourning period for the two.
Sinqina family spokesperson Monwabisi Sinqina said he was disappointed there had been no arrests for the earlier killings.
“This is disappointing. If police could have made arrests in the 2023 killing [maybe] we would not have this massacre.
“We have 20 people who died in the name of Sinqina. The family is now [almost] wiped out,” he said.
Sinqina-Matu’s husband died a few years ago.
Nkosinathi Matu said: “My late younger brother’s family was wiped out last night by unknown gunmen. His widow, their daughters and a grandchild were all killed.”
Matu said the motive was unknown.
“We are devastated. No-one thought that one day all my brother’s family would die in a hail of bullets. We only see this on TV from afar,” he said.
Lonwabo Dukuza lost three sisters — Nobelungu France, Nombuliso and Nonkanyiso.
“To lose three siblings in one go, and dying such a violent death, is traumatic and devastating.
“My sisters all have children and who is to look after them?” Lonwabo asked.
Two survivors, one who lost his wife and another her daughter, described how they miraculously survived the attack.
Ndabazakhe Mhlawulivela lost his wife Thandeka and Jane King’s daughter Ruth, 21, died.
“I was asleep in another room alone. I heard gunshots and my wife who was in another room with other women rushed to warn me to stay in the room and hide,” Mhlawulivela said.
“She went back to the women’s room. I think she thought the gunmen were targeting me.
“Shooting continued. I don’t know why the gunmen did not come to my room, it was just God’s mercy,” Mhlawulivela said.
He said he believed his wife had saved him.
“The last words she uttered were ‘please do not go out, they are shooting’.
“Those words still ring in my head and my wife died in that massacre.”
King said the fierce shooting had caused doors to shake.
“I thought of my daughter who was in the other room.
“As I wanted to go out, two women who were with me stopped me and hid under the bed as the gunshots continued.
“When we went out, 17 people including my daughter were killed,” King said.
AmaMpondo acting King Dumelani Daluxolo Sigcau called for everyone to assist in the police investigation.
“There have been a number of shootings and killings in Ngobozana, including shooting of teachers and taxi violence in Lusikisiki.
“We must be united and stop this bloodbath,” he said.
Lusikisiki crime buster Khwalo Matandabuzo said the incident was barbaric.
“We call for the police to quickly arrest these people,” Matandabuzo said.
Police national spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said: “We have five survivors. They include four women and a two-month-old baby. The baby was not injured.”
National police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola summoned a forensics team from Pretoria to assist.
Police minister Senzo Mchunu said maximum resources had been mobilised.
According to police, the gunmen pounced on two homesteads in the same street.
At the first homestead, four people were shot dead with no survivors while at the second homestead, where there were 19 people in two separate houses in the same yard, 13 people were shot dead.
Ingquza Hill mayor Nonkosi Pepping said: “This is a disaster and the government will intervene and assist in giving a dignified send-off of those who died.”
Pepping said she hoped the police would speed up the investigation and bring the perpetrators to book.
OR Tambo police district commissioner Maj-Gen Phumzile Cetyana said: “All the victims have gunshot wounds, mostly on the head. The attackers were determined to kill them.”
Political parties have condemned the mass shooting, with the ANC in the province calling for law enforcement agencies to apprehend the perpetrators.
The ATM said targeting women and vulnerable individuals reflected a deep-seated societal malaise that should be addressed with urgency and determination.
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