He is lamenting for placing a candle of death on another family of a female student who was brutally killed with her friend in Mzomusha, Nanda, on Saturday.
The body of Anele Khwela (14) who was studying Grade 8 at Mariannridge Secondary, Pinetown and his friend were seen by people passing by on the road in Nanda.
It is said that although it is not clear from the report of the doctor who examined the bodies why they were killed, but the eyewitnesses said that it looked like they were beaten severely and then electrocuted.
A relative who asked not to be named for fear of her life revealed that Anele was killed a few days after the family had been burying her sister, Ms. Nozipho Khwela (26), who was said to have been ill for a short time and died.
“We were burying Nozipho last weekend, as Anele was killed on Saturday. We are like people who light one candle at a time,” said a relative.
We pointed out that Anele was killed just because he was not living in the area.
“He is a person who lives in Mariannridge. He comes to Nanda for a visit or if there are certain circumstances, as he was back for his sister’s funeral,” said a relative.
We also revealed that since Anele was killed, her biological father is about to bury the second child who was brutally killed in relation to West. He said three years ago he buried his son, Mr. Thobani Nkosi (28).
“He was part of a gang, selling drugs, and was killed by other criminals,” a relative recalled.
We have appealed to the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to deploy the National Intervention Unit (NIU). He said that their current request is for the unit to remain based in this area.
“If there is NIU, it will be heard. If it disappears, crime will start all over again as it is now, and we also find ourselves losing,” said the relative.
We are narrating the incident and said that the deceased was last seen alive on Thursday, leaving home with his friend.
They said they heard a phone call on Saturday morning, telling them to come to the scene to see if it wasn’t their son who had collapsed on the street.
“Those who went first came and failed to see that he was gone in the way he was injured. When his mother went to check, they were the ones who confirmed that it was him,” said the relative.
We said that they were injured all over their bodies, even the hair on their heads was shaved.
“I don’t know why they cut their hair,” exclaimed the relative.
We confirmed that the deceased had a boyfriend in the West gang.
“I once reprimanded him for this. It was after he was shot and another friend he was traveling with was injured. It was as if he heard but after the incident happened I saw that the children did not hear, as he was just killed, which means he continued,” said the relative.
After the killing of the students, the police killed two of the West, including its leader, Mnqobi ‘Number 5’ Mhlongo.
It will be remembered that the previous leader of the West, was Mnqobi Nzimande, who is known as Number 10. He was also killed by the police and two others, at the end of January last year.
According to another Solezwe source, Number 5 took over the leadership of West last year following his release after being arrested for murder.
“The murder case he was facing was dropped because the witnesses were afraid to testify in court, so he went out like that. When he was outside, he killed five people, and they anointed him that he would be their boss,” said the source.
He confirmed that the West has become divided, and both sides have started killing each other’s girls, as students were killed over the weekend.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Amanda Funani, said they are investigating two cases of murder following the discovery of two women’s bodies in Ntuzuma on Saturday. He said the cause of the murder is still unknown.
Confirming the killing of the two suspects, he said the police were tracking members of the West gang who were wanted for a series of murders and robberies.
“The police knocked on a house, but no one answered. When they pushed the door, the suspects opened fire at the police,” said Col Funani.
He said the police also returned fire, killing two suspects. He said the matter is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.