A lack of police assistance is among the challenges faced by Godini village Community Policing Forum (CPF) patrollers near Qumbu in the Eastern Cape who lost six members when alleged stock thieves ambushed them in yet another mass shooting in that province.
Sixteen of them came under attack at about 10.45pm on Sunday at Lugongozo Junior Secondary School in Godini village ward 13. Six survived, four were wounded, five died at the school premises and one on arrival at the hospital after being wounded in a hail of bullets.
The incident comes as the Eastern Cape was reeling from the brazen shooting which claimed the lives of 18 family members (pictured) in Lusikisiki last month.
Detailing how the latest incident unfolded, Eastern Cape police commissioner Nomthetheleli Mene said it was alleged that a group of at least eight men, who were armed with rifles and handguns, opened fire on the patrollers.
“It is said that the patrollers were at a local school, and were preparing for their evening patrols when they were attacked. The suspects are still at large, and a motive for the shooting is unknown at this stage. We have mobilised maximum resources, and we are concerned that those who are working and assisting the police are being targeted and attacked. We will do our best to ensure that those who were behind this mass shooting are apprehended,” said Mene.
The school was the patrollers’ meeting point before they head on to the streets, said national police commissioner Fannie Masemola.
“As they gathered here and waited for more people to arrive, some of them noticed suspicious people outside. When they went out to probe, they were fired at from all directions,” Masemola said.
“There are positive leads – we are currently looking at six suspects and can confirm three of the suspects are from here.
“A team has been put together and are on the heels of the perpetrators. The possible motive is stock theft related and also conflict from other nearby villages, but the exact cause of conflict will be announced. We are also in the process of increasing our stock theft units,” said Masemola.
He urged patrollers to work with the station commander and always inform him about their whereabouts when they were patrolling.
“Also work with the stock theft unit that is available here. We applaud the work you have been doing here and are saddened about this tragic incident. As you have stated, you do foot patrols; I am committing to give you horses to make the work better,” said Masemola.
He also committed to availing two state vehicles that will patrol with the groups and shared his contact number after a patroller raised the issue that local police don’t always respond to their calls.
“More needs to be done to ensure safety and security. It is good that the district commissioner and also you national commissioner leave us your numbers. We call the police when stock is being taken but we don’t get a response. We are also sometimes told there is one vehicle or no vehicle,” the patroller said.
Kumkani Mhlontlo Local Municipality mayor Mbulelo Jara said these incidents meant that as a government they were far from winning the battle against crime and it was also a signal that there were many illegal firearms in the possession of criminals.
“The incident has shocked our community and left us deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of our residents. As the leadership of Kumkani Mhlontlo Municipality, we unequivocally condemn this act of violence and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased.
“We are in communication with the SAPS, and we urge law enforcement to prioritise the investigation and bring those responsible to justice swiftly. The safety of our communities is paramount, and this incident is a painful reminder of the need for stronger action to curb violent crime,” said Jara.
The murders of the patrollers comes a day after a memorial service was held for the 18 family members killed in the Lusikisiki mass shooting just nine days ago. Hundreds of mourners including some Eastern Cape royal houses, residents, families, civil rights organisations and dignitaries from national and provincial government gathered at Lusikisiki College of Education on Sunday for a mass memorial service.
The Ngobozana village was left reeling after the family was almost wiped out when gunmen opened fire last week at two homesteads as their victims prepared for a traditional ceremony. The majority of those killed were women.
Speaking on the latest incident, portfolio committee on police chairperson Ian Cameron said the attack was intimidation to halt community members from participating in crime fighting.
“The barbaric killing of community members who were concerned about the safety of their community is symptomatic of the rising tide of intimidation, extortion and violence against law-abiding citizens. These murders are seemingly intended to intimidate members of the community to discourage them from participating in this critical pillar of crime-fighting effort,” Cameron said.
The National Community Policing Consultative Forum urged the community to be united, stand firm and assist law enforcement with any information that may lead to the swift arrest of the perpetrators.
Anyone with information about the incident can anonymously contact the investigating team leader at 082 301 7762, alternatively Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Cape Times