Gogo killed over grandson

Michael Nkalane

EXTRA police have been deployed to Zwelitsha in Nyanga after a shooting spree left four dead – a grandmother, 83, two children and a 43-year-old man – and two injured.

The community is bracing itself for retaliation attacks and an all-out gang war after Tuesday night’s Sibini Avenue bloodbath. A 25-year-old has been arrested for shooting a 40-year-old.

At the heart of the massacre is Nomalizo Khuthu’s 27-year-old grandson, suspected of being a gangster. Her family is angry and distraught that she died so violently and at the hands of gangsters who were looking for her grandson, who has now gone to ground.

The gogo’s death was the culmination of the shooting spree, which started on Tuesday evening with the death of Siphiwo Ngcwangu, 43, and a 40-year-old friend.

His killing was followed shortly by the killing of Mbulelo, 8, and his sister Linathi, 15, who were related to Ngcwangu.

Their sister, Khanyo Ngcwangu, 7, was also shot and is in hospital.

Their mother, Linda Ngcwangu, was too traumatised to speak.

Three members of a gang from Gugulethu and New Crossroads came to Nyanga looking for Khuthu’s grandson.

They heard he had been seen with Ngcwangu, who was sitting in a car with another man. Shots were fired and Ngcwangu and the other man were hit. Ngcwangu died in hospital.

The gunmen went into Ngcwangu’s house and shot Mbulelo, Linathi and Khanyo.

The gunmen fled, only to return three hours later to Sibini Avenue, breaking into Khuthu’s house and kicking down her bedroom door.

The gunmen were too late, as Khuthu’s grandson had left her house minutes before.

One of her small grandchildren, who was sleeping next to her, managed to hide himself in a cupboard. Lindiwe Khuthu said her mother must have been trying to get out of bed when the gunmen broke down her bedroom door.

“She was shot in the head. A picture of my mother, lying face down in a room full of blood, will forever be etched in my mind,” she said.

The Khuthus were devastated and angry yesterday, pointing fingers at their wayward relative.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Lindiwe said it was sad and unfair the family had paid a heavy price for a wayward son.

“My mother has died for his gang connections. Parents don’t ask children to join gangs. But look at these innocent lives that are lost because of his mischief,” she said.

She said it was the second time rival gangs were looking for him.

“They came in December last year and shot a dog. They also shot a dog this time. I don’t understand why they keep on shooting the innocent,” said Lindiwe.

Another Khuthu relative, Mhinki Bacela, said the gang had been at her house looking for her cousin.

“He always escapes his death. He had just left before they came. It was after then that they came here and killed my grandmother. This is going too far. Innocents are paying the price now,” she said.

Nyanga Community Police Forum chairperson Dumsani Qwebe said they suspect the killers were gangsters from New Crossroads and Gugulethu who were looking for Khuthu’s grandson.

He said when they couldn’t find him, they shot his grandmother.

“This hurts the whole community because when crime statistics come out, we are always number one. This is a gang war which contributes to murder stats,” he said.

Qwebe said the matter will be discussed in a meeting today with area committees of Mau-Mau and Zwelitsha.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said a 25-year-old man will appear in court once he has been charged. She said they had sent in extra police officers to patrol the area.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects is requested to contact Nyanga detectives on 021 380 3320 or Crime Stop anonymously on 08600 10111.