A tragic incident in Mkhambathini Location, near eMaxesibeni in the Eastern Cape, has left two people dead and four others critically injured after a violent attack on Friday night, January 17. The incident, which resulted in charges of double murder and attempted murder, saw a group of armed men storm a family home, leaving the community in shock.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, a spokesperson for the police, four men, their faces concealed by balaclavas, broke into two separate houses on the property. In the first house, they shot and killed a 16-year-old boy and a 33-year-old woman while the family members were asleep. “Information indicates that the family was at home asleep in two different stand-alone houses when these armed men, covered with balaclavas, started shooting in one house, fatally wounding the two deceased,” Mawisa explained.
After the devastating attack on the first house, the armed assailants moved to the second house, where they continued their violence, injuring four more individuals, ranging in age from 20 to 57. The victims, who sustained serious injuries, were rushed to the hospital and are currently in critical condition.
The investigation took a positive turn when the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, working swiftly, arrested a 50-year-old man on Saturday, January 18. The suspect is scheduled to appear in the eMaxesibeni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, January 20, to face charges related to the killings and the attack on the others.
While one person is in custody, police are continuing their search for the remaining three attackers. Authorities have urged the public to come forward with any information that could aid in their investigation. “We appeal to anyone with information to assist us in tracking down the other suspects,” Mawisa said.
Members of the community are encouraged to report any relevant details to their local police station or to contact the SAPS Crime Stop line at 08600 10111. The case has raised serious concerns about violence in the area, and law enforcement is determined to bring all those responsible to justice.
