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South Africans are reeling after the killing of nine people in two separate incidents in KwaNdengezi township, outside Durban, over the weekend.
Six people were shot Saturday night, leaving five dead and one in critical condition in the hospital. On the same day, the bodies of four men, suspected of being cattle thieves, were discovered on the sports field of a school, all with gunshot wounds.
This is what you need to know:
Five killed in one hit
KwaNdengezi police opened five murder cases and one attempted murder after six people were shot “execution-style”, leaving one in critical condition in hospital. The incident occurred on Saturday night around 10 p.m.
The victims were sitting in a pickup truck when three men driving a VW Polo waved them out of the car before they started shooting. Police spokesman Col. Thembeka Mbele said they were shot “execution style” and nothing was taken from them.
Who are the victims?
Two of the victims are reportedly teachers from the Pinetown district. A spokesman for the education department, Muzi Mahlambi, said they had received confirmation that the victims were employees of the department.
A neighbor told TimesLIVE that the victims were quiet people. He said he was traumatized by the incident and was considering moving because he feared for his life and that of his family.
More bodies found
In an unrelated incident, the bodies of four men between the ages of 17 and 40 were found in a schoolyard around 10 a.m. The men were suspected of being cattle thieves and their murders are believed to be related to these incidents.
Mbele said the victims suffered gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Bheki Cele speaks
Police Minister Bheki Cele visited the area on Monday, addressing community members and concerned families of the victims. He said police would work 24 hours a day to establish the motive for the killings.
The minister was accompanied by the national police commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole and the MEC for transport, community security and liaison Bheki Ntuli
Cele said the murders occurred in a space of eight to 10 hours, and in the same area. He described them as “serious” and “strange”.
South Africans speak
Some have taken to social media to comment on the incidents. Here’s a glimpse of what they have to say:
