SAPA, Sep. 12, 2002
http://www.news24.com/
Empangeni – A councillor’s wife and granddaughter were shot dead by a gunman at Dondolo reserve near Empangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast on Wednesday night, police said.
Captain Musa Khaba said on Thursday police believed the killing may have been linked to allegations that the wife was practising witchcraft.
The family was about to go to bed when the gunman kicked open the door of councillor Zikitele Isaac Nyawo’s home and opened fire around 20:.30. His wife Melitan Majola (57) and their granddaughter Lihle Ntimbela (6) died at the scene.
The councillor was hit in both legs and was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Khaba said the allegations of witchcraft first surfaced after the mutilated body of 6-year-old Thembeka Sabela was found on August 27. The victim’s lips, ears and tongue were missing.
Members of the community subsequently assaulted a man accused of the murder. The man claimed he had been ordered to carry out the killing by Majola, who was allegedly practising witchcraft.
The man is expected to appear in the Eshowe Magistrate’s Court later on Thursday.
No arrests have been made in connection with Wednesday night’s attack.