NELSPRUIT – Police in Mpumalanga have launched a vigorous manhunt for suspects following two separate incidents in which five victims were fatally shot and their houses torched. These horrifying incidents occurred in the early hours of today, Wednesday 16 June 2021, at Bushbuckridge and Madras near Hazyview respectively.
Reports indicate that in the first incident, police received information about a shooting incident at Madras, where four family members were shot execution style by four suspects inside their RDP house.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the house in flames with four victims inside lying unconscious with burn wounds in two separate rooms. The emergency services were summoned for assistance and all the victims were unfortunately certified dead.
The victims have already been identified by the family as Martha Ndlovu (Mother), aged 53, Eckson Five Ndlovu (father), aged 59, Lovenecia Ndlovu (girl child), aged 14 and 12 year Permission Ndlovu (girl child). Police further discovered that one family member, a 25 year old man who was also in the house survived the shooting and managed to alert neighbours who eventually notified police.
Meanwhile in the second incident, which occurred in Bushbuckridge, also a group of about four armed suspects stormed into a certain house at Mandela Village. It is said that Caswell Maphanga, aged 25 was asleep at the time and the suspects reportedly shot at him and then burned the house before they fled the scene.
Concerned members of the public notified relevant stakeholders about the incident and upon arrival, the fire fighters extinguished the fire. However, Maphanga was unfortunately certified dead by the paramedics and police opened a murder case hence the manhunt.
A Preliminary investigation revealed that before the incident, Caswell’s mother received a call from her other son indicating that there were people looking for him (Caswell’s brother) and were already on their way to the house. The mother was reportedly at work at the time and she then learned that the suspects had already killed Caswell as well as burned her house. A preliminary probe has revealed that these killing spree are as a result of gangs fighting against each other. Police request Skhumbuzo Madalane and Bonginkosi Shakoane to come forward as they believe the duo can positively assist in the investigation. As a result of all these atrocious acts, police management in Mpumalanga, led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Thulani Phahla, has motioned a 72 hour Activation Plan comprising of all relevant disciplines with a view to track down those responsible.
In the meantime, police urge the community to be patriotic in their quest to find these heartless villains. They (community) can volunteer their valuable information if they have knowledge on the whereabouts of Madalane as well as Shakoane by contacting Detective Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Bhiya at 0720158022, or Detective Captain Dexter Ndlovu at 0829229902/ 0833124305.
Alternatively members of the public can call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
Source: South African Police Service