Residents of Nxankxashe village in Willowvale, Eastern Cape, express fear following the fatal shooting of seven individuals over the weekend. It is reported that six of them, including two children, were en route to Mabala village when they were brutally killed.
Another body was discovered in a separate vehicle, a kilometer away from the initial incident. All victims were found deceased with gunshot wounds.
Residents of Nxankxashe village claim to hear gunfire daily at dusk. Tensions within the village have resulted in the deaths of the seven individuals, including 24-year-old Xolani Meje from Mabala village. Meje and five others were traveling home when they were fatally shot.
Meje's uncle and family spokesperson, Headman Xhalisile, recounts the events: "This occurred at night, around 11, but we learned about it in the morning. When we arrived, they were all deceased. There were six individuals in the car, including two children. Villagers informed us they didn't recognize the occupants, so we attempted identification. We could only identify Xoli Meje. We learned they were from Mthatha."
Meje met his demise while returning home from Gauteng, leaving Mabala village residents devastated. Nosiseko Guqiso and Inkosi Jongisizwe Matshini, who came to mourn with the grieving family, expressed their shock at the tragedy.
Guqiso remarked, "This child was the sole breadwinner in the household. His family relied on him for sustenance. We couldn't sleep last night. We're unsure how we'll travel to town because the only route passes through Nkxankxashe, where people are being killed."
Matshini added, "We're also very frightened. Sometimes we work in Willowvale, and it's distressing because we must travel there for cases involving residents. We're extremely apprehensive when visiting that town."
Eastern Cape police continue to search for the suspects involved in the shooting. Four of the deceased individuals, identified as Nkqubela September, Luyolo September, Iviwe September, and Busisiwe September, are reported to be members of the same family. The remaining two victims are Lubabalo Khumalo Mazwana and Bongani Maleki from Dutywa.
