Two men were found beaten and necklaced in Ngcobo early yesterday, only hours after five women and a young girl were attacked in the district’s Qhumanco village at the weekend.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said a 32-year-old woman had been raped and stabbed to death on Saturday night.
Her body was found with multiple stab wounds not far from her home.
Her 11-year-old daughter and 58-year-old mother were also stabbed and rushed to hospital, where they are recovering.
“It seems there was a traditional initiation ceremony going on in the village on Saturday. The victims were in their home when the door was kicked down,” said Fatyela.
The spokesman said at least three other women from the same village were attacked on the same night.
One of the victims has stab wounds and had to be rushed to hospital while another woman, who was almost raped, managed to fight off her attackers.
Fatyela was unable to provide details on the sixth victim.
He said two men were arrested yesterday and would appear in court tomorrow on charges of rape, murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
While the villagers were still reeling in shock from the attacks on the women, the charred remains of the two men were discovered yesterday morning.
One of the victims is said to be related to one of the arrested men.
Their bodies were found 300m from the home of the dead woman.
“They were assaulted before being necklaced with tyres and torched,” said Fatyela.
He said they believed it could have been a revenge attack.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the scene yesterday morning, the bodies lay draped under white sheets while police waited for personnel from the forensic section.
Fatyela said attacks on women were a cause for concern.
The police, together with traditional leaders and Ngcobo municipality officials, yesterday pleaded with Qhumanco villagers to calm down and not to take the law into their own hands.
“We strongly condemn incidents of violence. Let’s work together to fight crime,” Fatyela urged.
Ngcobo mayor Lamla Jiyose, who also visited the village yesterday, said the deaths of so many people had come as a shock.
“We must not take the law into our hands as that might jeopardise police investigations.”
The chief of the area, Sandile Mgudlwa, said although there were incidents of crime in the village, the attacks on the women and the subsequent “revenge” attacks against the two men had left many shocked.
He said residents had been pleading for a police station nearby.
Many of the residents in the village said similar attacks had taken place in Qhumanco last year, claiming women were targeted.
Most villagers said the deaths had left them rattled as they were now scared to sleep in their own homes.
Widow Nozolile Vilakazi said she was attacked in her own home twice last year, but she escaped unharmed each time.
Jiyose and Mgudlwa said a special general meeting would be held in the village to find a permanent solution.
Fatyela said a special task team had also been set up by police to investigate the incidents. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Villagers beaten, necklaced
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said a 32-year-old woman had been raped and stabbed to death on Saturday night.
Her body was found with multiple stab wounds not far from her home.
Her 11-year-old daughter and 58-year-old mother were also stabbed and rushed to hospital, where they are recovering.
“It seems there was a traditional initiation ceremony going on in the village on Saturday. The victims were in their home when the door was kicked down,” said Fatyela.
The spokesman said at least three other women from the same village were attacked on the same night.
One of the victims has stab wounds and had to be rushed to hospital while another woman, who was almost raped, managed to fight off her attackers.
Fatyela was unable to provide details on the sixth victim.
He said two men were arrested yesterday and would appear in court tomorrow on charges of rape, murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
While the villagers were still reeling in shock from the attacks on the women, the charred remains of the two men were discovered yesterday morning.
One of the victims is said to be related to one of the arrested men.
Their bodies were found 300m from the home of the dead woman.
“They were assaulted before being necklaced with tyres and torched,” said Fatyela.
He said they believed it could have been a revenge attack.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the scene yesterday morning, the bodies lay draped under white sheets while police waited for personnel from the forensic section.
Fatyela said attacks on women were a cause for concern.
The police, together with traditional leaders and Ngcobo municipality officials, yesterday pleaded with Qhumanco villagers to calm down and not to take the law into their own hands.
“We strongly condemn incidents of violence. Let’s work together to fight crime,” Fatyela urged.
Ngcobo mayor Lamla Jiyose, who also visited the village yesterday, said the deaths of so many people had come as a shock.
“We must not take the law into our hands as that might jeopardise police investigations.”
The chief of the area, Sandile Mgudlwa, said although there were incidents of crime in the village, the attacks on the women and the subsequent “revenge” attacks against the two men had left many shocked.
He said residents had been pleading for a police station nearby.
Many of the residents in the village said similar attacks had taken place in Qhumanco last year, claiming women were targeted.
Most villagers said the deaths had left them rattled as they were now scared to sleep in their own homes.
Widow Nozolile Vilakazi said she was attacked in her own home twice last year, but she escaped unharmed each time.
Jiyose and Mgudlwa said a special general meeting would be held in the village to find a permanent solution.
Fatyela said a special task team had also been set up by police to investigate the incidents. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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